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'tPREFAGE^il 



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The necessity for a work which would, with approximate correctness, 
describe the various g-rades of lumber, as made in the distributing- yards of the 
country, has long been felt, but has never been undertaken, for many reasons 
apparent to the practical lumberman. 

One of the most potent of these reasons has been in the lack of uniformity 
between dififerent markets; a factor wh:ch has its existence in consequence of 
the lack of a standard. The object of this work is to supply a standard; and, as 
the Chicago market is not only the largest in the world, but was the first to 
inaugurate the prevailing custom of extended grading, it is manifestly proper 
that its system should be adopted as the basic rule. 

The work has been undertaken by one who has had a life experience as a 
lumber inspector, and isarecognized authority upon all matters connected with 
the manufacture and sale of lumber. In its preparation the yards of Chicago have 
been thoroughly canvassed, and the lumber actually examined, to an extent 
which must insure a fair average of the grades described, as made by those 
claiming neither the "best" grades, on the one hand, or having reputation for 
making "low" grades on the other. 

After publication, covering a period of several months, in the columns of 
the Lumber Tradk Journal, in connection with a request for candid cri\i- 
cism, which the author l^as been highly gratified to find of an unusually compli- 
mentary nature; the work is now given to the world, with full confidence tha^t 
it will be generally adopted as a reliable guide for general uniformity in 
grading customs. 

THE AUTHOR. 

Chicago, July i, iSSS. 



I^INBEXI^. 



3>I<tE 



CHICAGO YARD GRADING. page 

What Constitutes an Inspector and Grader i 

Thick, Clears, and Selects, with examples ., ( 

One-inch Finishing, " " u 

Stock Boards, " «' i, 

Box Boards, " " k 

Siding and Flooring Strips, rough, with examples 2: 

Flooring, dressed and matched, " " 2' 

Siding, " " 2( 

Beaded Ceiling, " " 3 

Common and Cull Boards, " " 3 

Mill Culls 3 

Common and Cull Fencing 31 

Pickets and Battens 3' 

Timber Joist and Scantling 3; 

Shingles 41 

Lath 4 

C. Select 4; 

Saps 4_ 

Farmers Clear 4^ 

Weights of Pine Lumber 4 

Inspection Charges .|i 

Weight of Cedar PostB 4( 



SUPPLEMENT. 

Rules for Cargo Inspection 4^ 

I lard Wood Inspection Rules 5 

Sash, Doors and Blinds 6. 

Cedar Posts and Paving ( 

Railroad Ties 6 

Yellow Pine Classification 75-7 

Poplar Inspection 7! 

Quarter Sawing 6 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

Effect of Sap in Lumber Si 

Re-Measuring Cargoes S 

Snide Shingles S: 

Measuring "Merchantable" S; 

Teaching a Novice S, 

Ready Reckoner, Sx;antling and Joist. , V< 



VRAT • GeNSriTdTES • AN, 
INSPECTOR. 



a>i<E 



Much discussion is indulged in regarding inspection, and its 
generally unsatisfactory character From the first inception of the 
lumber trade a difficulty has prevailed in the matter of bringing the 
judgment of the buyer to agree with that of the seller of lumber, as to 
its value. In the early history of the business it was customary to 
sell the entire product of the log en masse, but presently it was found 
that one portion was better adapted to certain uses, and of more 
value in that use, and the separation into qualities ensued. Differ- 
ences of judgment now became apparent, and an appeal to arbitration 
in the selection of an unbiased man skilled in working up lumber, 
and consequently supposed to be competent to judge of its adapt- 
ability to certain uses — was resorted to, until "viewing," "surveying" 
or "inspection" of lumber became a distinct occupation. For many 
years it was thought necessary that the "surveyor" should be a 
graduate of the carpenter's bench, but as the trade increased in 
volume, the surveyor's son or other assistant, who had served an 
apprenticeship as "tally boy," and thus obtained an insight into the-, 
principles governing the judgment of his father or emplo3'er, and 
who was occasionally permitted to handle the "rule" and "spell," his 
chief, albeit always under his eye, became sufficiently proficient tO" 
undertake the business for himself, until at the present time it is, 
difficult to find an inspector of lumber who has any practical knowl- 
edge of the tools with which, or the uses to which, lumber is to be 
worked or put. But the underlying qualifications of an inspector are 
the ability to judge of the adaptability of a piece of lumber to a 
certain use, and of the effect upon that adaptability of certain defects 
in the board or plank under consideration. What then is an 



6 

"inspector"? He is a judge, an arbitrator, one called to decide be- 
tween two parties, saying to one how much he ought to receive, and 
to the other how much he ought to pay for the lumber which he has 
been called upon to "view," "survey" or "inspect." In connection 
with lumber the two former terms are now obsolete, and the latter 
alone is used. What are the qualifications of an inspector? First 
and foremost, honesty; second and no less important, common sense. 
If he is not honest, the possession of common sense is an incentive to 
rascality, and there is nothing in the realm of business transactions, 
which presents a broader opportunity for testing a man's" integrity 
than lumber inspection. Given honesty and common sense, an 
inspector should be one who is expert in judging the relative value 
of one piece of lumber to another from what may be called two basic 
or ideal standpoints — the first a perfect piece of lumber, one free 
from sap, rot, knot, shake, worm hole, check, stain or other defect; 
the second a piece of lumber with sound knots of small size, but 
without other, defect. The first is designated "clear," the second 
'•common " \Yith these two ideals in mind a skillful inspector 
examines a piece of lumber with a view of deciding to what extent its 
defects affect its value in comparison with the basic standards. He 
finds a custom which divides the first standard into several subdi- 
visions; his duty is to decide between the two parties into which of 
these subdivisions each piece should be classified. So also with the 
second division, he is to determine the relative value of each piece as 
compared with a standard piece of common. In this determination 
common sense must be exercised to no small degree. All boards are 
r\pt alike, in fact no two are alike, and now comes in the exercise of 
sound judgment to determine fairly the relative value of one board to 
another. This demands a knowledge of lumber and the uses to 
which it is to be put, and no so-called inspector is entitled to the 
appellation, unless from an intimate acquaintance with timber, and 
the uses to which it is adapted, he can exercise an honest common 
sense in its classification. How then shall both buyer and seller be 
protected in their rights, or know that judgment has been passed 
upon the lumber by a competent man? Only through a system by 
which those claiming to be competent can be certified as to that com- 
petency by an organized and authorized committee composed of men 
whose training and experience in handling lumber have fitted them 



to pass judgment upon the competency of the would-be inspector. 
Such a committee will, in every large market, find inspectors who 
are first class in their judgment of pine, but who do not understand 
the first rudiments of hardwood inspection. They will find men who 
are experts in their judgment of oak, but who are utterly incom- 
petent to pass judgment upon walnut or other varieties of hardwood. 
Such men should be certified and licensed according to the rules of 
common sense, viz.: For such varieties and such only as they prove 
their ability to properly pass judgment upon. Indiscriminate license 
to, or toleration of, all who are wise in their own conceits, but incom- 
petent to deal fairly as arbitrators between the man who sells and the 
man who buys, is the curse of the lumber trade of to-day, an evil 
which all honest dealers in every lumber market of the country should 
feel a personal interest in overcoming, or, failing to exercise that 
interest, become as culpable as those who through ignorance or dis- 
honest intent, work damage to either party to the transaction. An 
inspector who possesses the needful qualifications of judgment and 
honesty should be a man of stamina. He should resent any attempt 
on the part of buyer or seller to warp his judgment. Having 
received his instructions in the interest of both parties, if there is any 
special agreement, as is often the case, he is to be unbiased by the 
presence or the protest of either, and be guided only by his own 
individual judgment. In a wholesale market he is to form his judg- 
ment wholly upon the board as it lays before him. He has no right 
to say, "This would be a clear if the manufacturer at the mill had done 
so and so, therefore I will throw off so many feet and call it clear." 
His duty is to judge of the board as it is, not as it ought to have 
been. And here comes in his best jiidgmait, as he determines what 
is the grade of the board, considering its defects. He is not to say: 
"Oh, the dealer can manufacture and remedy these defects." If the 
dealer can do so it is at the expense of time and labor which are 
money, and he should have a compensation therefor. The inspector 
on the other hand is not to over-estimate defects, and thus work 
damage to the seller. When lumber is sawed for specific uses the 
inspector will judge defects upon the basis of the effect they will have 
upon that use. As a general rule it may be said an inspector is to 
judge lumber according to the surroundings. If it is to go into 
a general yard he must have in mind the requirements of yard stock. 



8 

if direct from the manufacturer to a consumer he may make allowanc 
for the uses to which it is to be devoted, which he could not make i 
going into a yard where the dealer takes his chances of selHng to th 
party who can handle it to the best advantage. If an inspector wa 
judging plank for a road he would not be justified in judging a 

t closely as if it were going into general stock. Knots or other defect 
which would depreciate in general value, would be no injury to th 
piece as a road plank. These illustrations serve as examples of th 

% fact that judgment is to be used according to existing circumstances 
as no cast-iron rule can be laid down for an inspector's guidance. 

^ Inspection must not be confounded with Yard Grading, for whil 
the former applies more especially to the wholesale, the latter applie 
exclusively to the retail trade. Akin to each other, the rules appli 
cable to grading, are far more elastic than those which apply t' 
inspection, and defects which in the latter w^ould condemn, are per 
missible in the former. Inspection varies, but has a far more soli< 
basis on which judgment may be formed, than is requisite in grading 
and the closer the lumber comes to the actual consumer, the mor 
may certain defects be ignored, in proportion to the certainty of th 
use to which the lumber is to be applied, and its adaptability to th 
use for which it is required. So while the inspector is required t 
distinguish but from three to five selections of quality, the grade 
must subdivide into an almost unlimited number, according to th 
demands of a local market, and the adaptability of a piece of lumbe 
to satisfy such demand in its individuality, rather than its generality 

r To be a good inspector requires knowledge, to be a good grader 
requires practice, the faculty of imitation, more than mathematics 

I yet the more intelligent the judgment, the more practical and uni 

* form will be the grading. 






d 

GRICAGO GRADING. 

We have of late received so many letters asking for present cus- 
toms of Chicago yard grading, and realizing that in ten years' time 
so many modifications of then existing customs have taken place that, 
the system then prevailing has been subject to many changes, we have' 
been moved to undertake the compilation at this time of what we be-' 
lieve to be as near the custom of this market in the selection of lum-. 
ber as it is possible to write it. I 

Our readers will at once agree with us that it is impossible to collate 
a description of yard grades which will harmonize with the practice 
of every lumber dealer. No two men see a board in the sajne light, ^' 
and t» a great extent no two will grade exactly alike. Two sorters 
upon the same yard will differ oftentimes upon the classification of an 
individual piece. General rules may be written, however, which will 
be the basis upon which all graders can unite, and the descriptions 
herein given we believe will be recognized as being of that character. 
In treating upon the subject we propose to take the Chicago Price 
List section by section, in the endeavor to give a reasonably clear and 
detailed statement of each item on the list. That our views will in 
some measure be subject to criticism we have no doubt, and we invite 
such honest criticisms as will enable us to revise and finally present, 
perchance, in future editions of this work, a complete symmetrical and 
generally accepted description of the different grades, such as will 
lead to uniformity of practice in all jobbing and wholesale yards ; 
throughout the country. Retaining the present price quotations, pro- 
portionate values will be the better indicated, but these are not to be 
taken in any other light than as illustrative, being liable to frequent" 
change, 

CHICAGO LIST, SECTION I. 
THICK CLEARS AND SELECTS. 

. A A r^, ^T//>^^ Lencrths.—Dry. rough. , 

I St and 2d Clear, 2 in «\,^or.^ 

SdClear, 114, .%....$42 00 2in ". ■.■.:::: 'Z ! t^ 

A,seect.:i<,ix^ ::::..:..:..:;; %Z 

A, Select, 2 in f 

B.Select. ii<, iK....$3i 00 2 in .■.■.■.■.■.■.■.■.■.".■■.■ S 00 

2x4 Clear and Select, tosrether %', r^ 

2X4B,s.iect ° : :: VoZ 

2x6 Clear and Select ,° °° 

30 00 



10 

ONfi iNCll IIXISIIING. 

MixeH Lengths.— Dry- rough. 

ist and 2il Clear $ 46 oo 

3d Clear 41 00 

A, Select, 9 in. up 35 00 

Thin, Clear and Select, 9 in. and upward -^5 o<i 

7@,S in. A@rlear, Base.. .. : .^t 00 

7@S in. B, Base 3' f*" 

B, Select 27 (xi 

All one length $1 extra. 

Strictly speaking, first clear is not known in Chicago grades, firsts 
and seconds being combined in one grade. 

Plrst clear needs but little description. It is a piece of lumber 
nearly or quite free from imperfections. Standard lengths in even 
feet of 1 2-foot long and upward have always been insisted upon. Of 
late, howfever, short lumber is to an increasing extent being graded in 
qualities, and to this the rules for grading long lumber are equally 
applicable with modifications suitable to conditions of length and 
width. As a rule, however, "shorts" are sold "on sight" rather than 
on grade. 

First clear should be not less than 10 inches wide in mixed width 
piles. In this grade perfection or something approaching that stand- 
ard is looked for. A narrow sap if seasoned bright is not considered 
a defect. The term "narrow" is a question of proportions. Two 
inches of bright sap on one edge of one side of a 2-inch plank 14 
inches wide would not take the piece out of first clear but the same 
width of sap in a 12-inch wide i-inch board would at least make it a 
liner between seconds and thirds if it did not throw it into the thirds. As 
\yidths and thickness increase, a larger portion of defects are allowa- 
ble. And here is where good judgment and nice discrimination are re- 
quired on the part of the grader. No two boards or planks are alike. 
As the eye strikes a piece of lumber which is not absolutely perfect, 
the involuntary question formulates in his mind, "What is the effect 
of that knot or that sap upon the use and value of the piece, as com- 
pared with a perfect piece of the same size?" This leads to an analy- 
sis of the blemish, as to its size and its location. If a knot, is it sound, 
and is it located so as to cause no waste in uses for which the piece, 
if perfect, would be adapted. If sap, is it bright, free from discolora- 
tion (which is incipient decay), is it narrow in proportion to the width 
of the plank? To what extent do these defects affect the value of the 
piece for use when compared with a perfect piece? In determining 



11 

these questions length, width and thickness are to be considered. That 
which would be a blemish on a C-inch strip i6 feet long, would be 
thought of small consequence in a i2.inch board of the same length, 
if not unfavorably located ; while defects condemning a ixi2 would 
be inconsiderable in a plank such as we describe below. 

In examining the yards of this city in order to correctly describe 
their customs, we have gathered examples in the different grades, the 
more intelligently to elucidate the subject to our readers. 

EXAMPLES OF FIRST CLEAR. 

Examplfi I.— A ixi3-i6feet. Is free from any defect; is sound in texture, 
free from knots, rot, sap, shake or other blemish. 

Example 2.— 1x12-16 feet. Has a narrow bright sap i inch wide on one edge 
of one side; no other defect. 

E.xampie 3. — 2x12-16 feet. Free from all defects, except that a knot the size 
ot a dime shows near the center of the heart side. 

Example 4. — 2x16-16 leet. One perfect side; the other shows a bright sap 2 
inches wide on one edge and i inch wide on the other. 

Example 5. — 3x24-16 feet. Has a perfect face. The heart side shows thr> e 
small knots, and at one end is a V-shaped rot 4 inches broad, extending 6 inches 
to its point. (96 feet of timber allows more blemishes and of a more serious nature 
than can be allowed in a small piece). 

SECOND CLEAR. 

It is a general custom to unite firsts and seconds in one grade. A 
second clear is a board which almost reaches the standard named for 
first. It may have slightly increased defects, but is gauged upon the 
rules given above. Example No. 2 in firsts would be a second if the 
sap were not perfectly bright, while it must go to a much lower grade 
if the sap is black. Example 3 would be a second if, with the knot 
on the heart, there were a light sap on the outside. 

Example I. — 2x13-16 feet. One clear face, except small cat face (curl), 1V2 
inches bright sap on one edge, and half inch bright sap on the other edge of the 
sap side. 

Example 3. — 3x23-16 feet. Heart side is perfect. A bad y edged piece, 
showing wormy on one edge a full inch wide, for two feet in length; also 3 
inches sap slightly discolored, running out at center. Tho other edge has ij^ 
inches sap slightly discolored. (Some yards would make this a third, but SS 
feet of timber in a desirable shape, covers a serious line of defects.) 

Example 3. — 2x14, iS feet. Has one perfect f.ice. Sip side shows 2 
inches of bright sap on each edge, tapering from one end to nothing in the cen^ 
ter of the length. 



12 

THIRD CLEAR. 

There is greater difficulty in defining a third clear than with the 
firsts and seconds. In ordinary inspection it would be defined as a 
piece of lumber having three defects, either of knots or sap, or both 
if favorably located, A somewhat larger knot and wider sap will 
pass in this grade than is permitted in the firsts or seconds. 

In pieces of less than twelve inches wide the knots should not be 
larger than a nickel, nor the sap over an inch in width. With increas- 
ing width and thickness larger knots to an inch in diameter, or wider 

. sap may be allowed. The face of a third should be reasonably clear, 
but with a small knot on the face two narrow saps on the other side 

■ are allowable. With a clear face more sap may be passed than in a 
second, or if the sap side is perfect three knots may be allowed on the 
heart. According to the size of the piece knots as large as a half dol- 
lar may be admitted, but it would require that the piece be a hand- 
some one otherwise, or if free from knots two or two and a half inches 
of sap on both edges of one side in a plank or board fourteen inches 
wide. 

Example i. — iHxn. His clear face side, other side has a bright sap 2 
inches wide running the full length of both edges. 

Example 2.-2x16. On face i knot i-inch diameter and a narrow sap show- 
ing on one edge. On sap side 3 inches sap slightly discolored on full length of 
one edge, otherwise perfect. 

Example 3.— 2x13. A 3-inch sap on both edges of one side. Heart side per- 
fect except two or three small hard gum spots. 

Example ^. — 2x16. A clus-ter of three small knots within two feet of one 
end show through; ii pin knot 6 feet from end. One-inch bright sap whole 
length on one edge of sap side. 

Examples. — 3^22. Has three small knots showmg through, several growth 
checks a few inches long not weakening the piece. 

Example 6. — 2xi-|. Slight sap on otherwise clear face. On sap side 3 inches 
of sap on each edge tapering out at 6 feet from end. 

A SELECT. 

A class of pieces almost equal to 3d clear, known to old inspectors as 
4ths. Not entitled to go in the clear, yet adapted to many or most 
of uses in which clear is used. 

Example i. — 2xiS. Ha> 3 scattering knots on heart side showing through. 
On sap side a line of sap 3 inches wide on both edges. 

Example 2. — 2xiS. Has 4 knots on heart side, no sap, but water streaks (not 
shake), oil sap side. 



13 

Example 3.-1^x20. Light sap and two worm holes which show through; 
a large knot on one edge, not reaching to face, otherwise perfect. 

Example 4. — 3x14. Has 5 small knots scattered on face; 3 inches sap on two 
edges of outside. 

Example 5.-2x20. Has 2 small saps on outside, a small shake for i foot at 
one end of heart face, otherwise perfect. (This would be a first but for the 
shake). 

Example 6.— 2xiS. Has a perfect face except a worm hole coming through. 
On sap side a 4-inch sap at end tapers to nothing at 6 feet on both edges. 

Example 7.— 2x14. A sap side free from defect; S small knots in line in 
center of heart side. 

Example 8.-1-2x14.— A narrow face rot extends 4 inches from end, oiherwise 
good face side. On outside, sap meets at end, tapering out on each edge at 7 
feet from end. 

Example 9. — 2x17. Has a small knot on the henrt face within an inch of the 
edge. Sap nearly meets at end on sap side, narrowing to a point within 4 feet 
of other end. 

Example 10. — ixio. A clear face; outside nearly covered with bright sap. 

B SELECT. 
Is the next grade below A, and comprises pieces nearly but not 
quite good enough for the A grade. It may have more sap or more 
knots, Or both, provided not too much of either. Will allow of end 
shake when cutting would raise the grade. 

Example 1.-2x20. Has 4 inches of sap on two edges, with g small knots 
and a cat face. On heart side 9 small knots well scattered and a trace of sap, 
These knots range from J^-inch to J^-inch in diameter, and are favorably 
located near center line. 

Example 2.-2x17. On heart side 3 black (rotten) ^-inch knots, two of these 
within iS inches of end and 6 inches of edge, the other 6 feet from end, S inches 
from edge. On sap side a ring rot streak 3 inches wide at end tapers out at 5 
feet; two of the knots are opposite this streak. Sap side is otherwise perfect 
except 1% inches bright sap on one edge tapers out at S feet. 

Example 3.— 1x8. A clear face: other side has ij^ inches of bright sap on 
one edge. (Should be classed as an 8-inch clear and A base.) 

Example 5. — 1^^x14. A clear face; on sap side a narrow, somewhat wormy 
and black sap on one edge, tapers out at 6 feet. 

Example 6.-2x13. Is old timber, showing age checks within 2 inches of one 
edge, otherwise clear. 

Example 7.— ij^^xio. One side nearly covered with sap, which shows for an 
inch on face side on one edge. 

Example S.— ij^xp. Sap on one edge rolls over on both faces, showing i^ 
to 2 inches on each. 

Example 9.-1^^x14. One face clear except a slight sap showing for a foot 
at one end. On sap siJt: well covered with sap showing only small proportion 
of heart wood. 



14 

Example lO. — 1 5^x22. A piece from near the heart; sap side is perfect, but 
a line of heart knots and checks makes one-half the heart side common, a 3-inch 
strip ripped out of center would leave two clear strips. 

Example 11. — ixS. A full sap side; near end on heart side a ij^inch knot, a 
slight sap runs over to this face. 

Example 12. — ij^xi6. Bright sap covers two-thirds of face side, with one 
small knot; is badly edged. On heart side a cluster of five small knots within 
2 feet of one end. Two inches of sap and 2 knots on one edge of other end. 

Example 13. — Has one good face; sap meets in middle of sap side, but both 
ends meaty. 

2x4, 2x6 and 2x8 clear and select form the closing items of this 
section. 

It is not expected that the same rigid judgment should be adopted 
upon these as upon the wider descriptions. The uses to which they 
are adapted will allow of more proportionate defects. The clears and 
selects are therefore combined, and while some perfect pieces will be 
found in a pile, and it is expected that a good face shall be presented 
in each piece, one side may have considerable sap, or if the sap side 
be perfect, one or two small knots upon the heart side will not throw it 
out. One good side, however, is generally demanded, and the stick 
must be free from shake and rot. 

ONE INCH FINISHING. 

One-inch finishing grades are subject in the main *o the rules gov- 
erning the thicker lumber. In practice as narrow as 7 and 8 inch wide 
is allowed, it being then classed as base, in which A and clear are 
combined. B base is of the same general description as B select, 
described in the former division, except as to being narrow 

" Thin" clear and select of 9-inch and upward, differs only in that 
it is less than i inch thick, otherwise up to standard 

TWELVE INCH STOCK BOARDS. 



A sto~k, 12, I4@i6ft ,. ...$4t 00 

R " 12, i4@r6 ft 37 00 

C " 12, i4@i6ft ^200 

D 12, i4@i6 ft 2^ 00 

D iS ft 2} 00 

D 20 ft 24 CO 



12 in. com., 12 ft $16 00 

12*' " i4@i6ft .. 1450 

12 " " iS ft iS 00 

12" " io@2o ft 1800 

12 " No. 2, 12 tt 14 00 

li " No. 2, i4@i6ft 13 5" 



(Note. — As previously, we letain price quotations as an index of the relative 
value of one grade to another.) 

Next in division to the clear and finishing grades the price list treats 
of "Stock Boards and 12-inch common boards." When a log is 
sided down to a size, which is usually 10 inch, 12 inch, 14 or 16 inch, 



15 

the boards which drop from the " stock " are uniform in width, and 
are termed stock boards, and these in gang mills are produced in 
quantity to warrant separate piling from the general cut of miscella- 
neous widths, and are in demand by parties desiring a quantity of a 
given width. These are selected or graded according to their quality, 
and receive designations representing those qualities. A, B, C and -D. 
When the quality is not up to the standard of D, a stock board is 
simply a lo or 12 inch (as the case may be) common. Lumber cut; in 
quantities to uniform widths and thickness usually bears a better price 
than is accorded to miscellaneous widths of the same quality. We do 
not look for much sap as a rule in " stock." 

A stocks are very nearly third clear, and in many instances fully 
reach that grade. The imperfections are small, consisting usually of 
small sound knots and bright sap. The following examples will con- 
vey a better idea than a general description can do. Where sap is 
mentioned it is understood to be bright, unless otherwise stated: 

Example i — 1x12-14. Heart side has 6 pin knots ( i pin knot is from the 
size of a pencil point to the diameter of a lead pencil) scattered over the sur- 
face. Has no sap, and the sap side is free from knot, sap or other bl.mish. 

Example 2. — 1x12-14. Heart side has 2 small knots, of which one is a pin. 
Sap side is perfect. 

Example 3. — 1x12-14. Heart side shows 2 pin knots and 4 small cat faces. 
Sap side is perfect. 

Example 4. — 1x12-14. Heart shows 4 cat faces, in two of which pin knots 
show, and one knot of %-inch diameter. Sap side shows the ^ knot as a pin, 
otherwise is perfect. 

Example 5. — 1x12-14. Heart side has one sound knot, size of a quarter dol- 
lar, and I pin knot. On sap side the big- knot shows as a % knot, but no sap. 

Example 6. — 1x12-16. Heart side is perfect, except a narrovv trace of sap on 
one edge. On sap side there is 2 inches of sap on both edges the full length of 
board. 

B STOCKS. 

Example i. — 1x12-16. Heart has 6 pin knots but no sap. Sap side has a 
narrow bright sap on each edge, and 3 pin knots. 

Example 2. — 1x12-14. Heart shows a trace of narrow bright sap on both 
edges for 4 and 6 feet from one end, with 2 pin knots. The sap side has bright 
sap on both edges of one end, from 1% inches wide tapeting to i inch in center 
of the length, and thence to nothing. 

Example 3. — 1x12-14. Heart has 3 pin knots. Sap side shows i pin knot^ 
and a vefy narrow sap full length of one edge. 

Example 4. — ixi2-i6. Heart shows 4 knots from pin to %-inch and a cat 
face, with a very light bright sap on one edge. Sap side shows 3 pin knots, 
and one heavy bright sap on one edge. 



16 

Example 5. — 1x12-16. Heart shows 6 fine pin knots, with \% inches of dis- 
colored sap, full of pin worm holes. Sap side shows 3 sm ill pin knots near one 
end, with i J^ to 2 inches of discolored (not black) wormy sap on both edgrs. 

Example 6. — 1x12-16. Heart side has a J^ to ^-inch bright sap on one ed^e, 
otherwise perfect. Sap side both edges show discolored sap the full length, 
ranging from feather to 2 inches wide in spots. 

Example 7. — 1x12-16. Heart side has 3 knots, size of a quarter dollar. Sap 
side shows the same knots a tr.fle smal'er. No other defects in the piece. 

Example S. — 1x12-12. Heart has 2-inch sap at one end on one edge, tapering 

to nothing at other end ; 2 small knots within 2 feet of one end. Sap side has 4 

inches sap on one edge, tapers out at other end. The other edge has a 2-inch 

' sap in center which tapers out at ends, and one small knot shows through from 

other side. 

C STOCKS. 

As defects have increased between A and B stocks so may they continue to 
increase as we reach the lower grades, and the following examples of C stock 
are given : 

Example i. — 1x12-12. Heart has S small knots of J^-inch, sound and in 
pairs. Sap on each edge tapers from nothing at one end to from z to 1% inches 
at the other. Sap side shows 6 of the knots, with sap on each edge, of 2 inches, 
narrowing in spots to i inch. 

Example 2. — 1x12-16. Heart side has 16 knots from pin upward, one being 
an inch broad by 2 inches long, on the edge of the board, and one of ^-inch 
near the center; one of J^-inch is rotten all the way through, the rest are small 
and red. On sap side the rotten knot is J^-inch, and there are 6 small red kmts, 
a trace of sap on both edges, widening on one edge to 1% inches at the center. 

Example 3. — 1x12-16. Heart his 6 knots from % to ^-inch and 4 cat face 
pins. Knots are mainly on one side of the center line. Sap side shows 4 knots 
and a J^ to 5^-inch sap for two- thirds the length of one edge. 

Example 4. — 1x12-12. Heart side has 7 small sound knots and one of i inch 
fairly in center line v/ith a trace of sap for five feet on one edge. Sap side 
shows 5 pin {% inch) knots, with a narrow sap not over an inch wide at any 
point, and not running the entire length, but broken at several points. 

Example 5. — ixi»-r6. Heart shows 12 knots, two of them as largo as }4 
inch, with a trace of bright sap on one edge. Sap side shows 7 of the knots 
(the largest J^ inch) mostly the size of a small pea; both edges show a narrow 
line of bright sap i to ij^ inch at widest. 

Example 6. —1x12-14 Heart shows 7 sound knots, two are the size of a sil- 
ver dollar; none of the rest are over % inch. No sap. Sap side shows 7 knots, 
one the size of a dollar, one the size of a half dollar; the rest mostly pins from a 
curl to J^ inch. On one edge a J^ inch streak of bright sap runs out 6 feet from 
end 

Example 7. — ixio-12. Heart has 4 knots, two of size of quarter dollar and 
2 pins. A sound gum streak eight inches long ; just a trace of bright sap. Sap 
side shows the two largest knots, but smaller; two-lhi'ds of this side is bright 
sap. 



17 

Example 8. — ixio-12. Heart has 7 knots, three the size of a quarter dollar; 
the rest very small. A slight sap on one edge. On sap side five of the knots 
show through with a sap on each edge averaging two inches wide the full 
length. 

Example 9. — ixio-12. Heart shows 13 knots, some of them simple curls; 3 
as large as a qiuirLer dollar, others size of a dime and less; all red and sound. 
A na-^row sip on edge for three feet from one end. On sap side are two pin 
knots. On one edge sap is 3 inches at end, running out in 4 feet; on other edge 
a sap of 2 inches tapers to % inch in 6 feet of length, showing traces the fuil 
length. 

Example ici. — ixio-12. Heart has 7 knots size of a dime to a5 small as pin. 
Sap side shows one open knot 2 inches from edge and 4 pin knots. On one edge 
sap is 3 inches at end, tapering out at 9 feet; on other edge a 3-inch sap tapers 
out in 3 feet. 

Example 11. — ixio-12. Heart has one large black knot 3 feet from end and 
well to one side, a knot size of quarter dollar near the middle; 6 pin knots and 
a trace of shake. On sap side the large knot and 3 pins. On one edge a sap 
of 2 inches runs out at 4 feet. On the other edge a one inch sap extends 2 feet 
each way from the center. 

Example 12. — 1x1012. Heart has two large black knots, one in the edge, 
the other near the center, and 2 pin knots. Sap shows tho large knots and con- 
siderable close shake at one end. 

D STOCKS. 

Example i.— 1x12-14. Has 16 sound, red knots all showing through. Six 
are of the size of a dollar; the rest range from pins to size of a quarter dollar 
All ae sound and well placed. This piece has no sap. 

Example 2. — 1x12-14. Has 17 sound knots, 11 of them could b>? covered by a 
dime, <^ by a quarter dollar, 2 by a dollar; 8 of them show through to outside 
No sap. 

Example 3. — 1x12-14. Heart shows 9 sound knots; 2 could be c wered by a 
half dollar, 2 by a quarter dollar; the rest from pins to size of a dime; has half 
an inch bright sap on the edge, tapering out in one foot. Sap side shows two 
knots that a quarter dollar will cover, and 5 that a dime would cover. An inch 
of sap at one end on one edge tapers out at 3 feet. 

Example 4. — 1x12-14. Heart shows 8 sizable knots, red, sound and well 
scattered ; one is in the ed -e at one end and is 2 inches in diameter One at a 
foot from Other end is the size of a dollar; 2 would be covered by a half dollar; 
others are from size of a quarter dollar to a dime. On the sap side all the 
knots show through and hold their size. At one end is 7 inches of meat be- 
tween sap edges; 'sap tapers out at 4 ftet from end on one edge, and S feet on 
the other. All the knots are a bright red and well placed. 

Example 5. — 1x12-14. Is a board without sap. Has 1 1 knots showing on 
both sides, black but sound; 7 of these could be covered by a dime, 2 by a quar- 
ter dollar and 2 by a dollar. This board from the favorable position of the 
knots would cut up two-thirds clear. 

Example 6.-1x12-14. Is a board from near the heart of the log; 13 sound 



18 

hright red knots in clusters of 3; show on both sides. The first cluster iS 
inches from the end, the rest 30 inches apart; would cut 4 clear panels 30 
inches lonji^. Nosaj). 

Example 7. — 1x12-14. Heart has iS knots well scattered, 6 are the size of a 
quarter dollar; the rest could be covered by a dime down to pins; all are sound 
and red; 14 of the knots show on sap side. One half of this board would be 
utilized cutting' to good advantage in fine work. 

Example S. — ixi3i6. Heart shows 10 good knots; 3 could be covered by a 
half dollar, 2 by a quarter dollar; the rest small and well scattered. A carpen- 
ter would not waste more than 25 per cent, in cutting for a clear finish. 

TWELVE INCH COMMON. 

Is good sound common lumber all 12 inches wide, free from loose 
knots, or knots which would weaken the piece. Lumber that will 
hold water. Is suitable for a board roof. Knots if sound and of 
character indicated, may be many in number. A reasonable amount 
of sap does not condemn, especially if bright, nor do edge saps, 
even if discolored, but the general character of the lumber is that of 
soundness and fitness for any use outside of finishing grades. 
While red knots are the most desirable sound black knots do not ex- 
clude, unless they are of a character to unfit the piece for ordinary 
uses in common work. As a rule, however, red knot common is 
held in higher estimation and price than black knot. 

Almost any man whether an expert or not can tell a piece of 
good common. The No. 2 grade requires a more expert judgment, 
and we give an example of 

TWELVE INCH NO. 2. 

Example i. — 1x12-14. Is a board with 10 large knots and several small ones. 
The former large and coarse, mainly red inside of black circles; could be 
knocked out by considerable pounding. One upon the edge is rotten upon 
one side, but reasonably sound on the other; two others arc black and of an 
unsound character. The small knots are sound and red. 

Example 2. — 1x12-12. Is from near the heart with a large number of small 
sound red knots; one end shows heart shake for a foot or more. 

Example 3. — 1x12-12. Was cut from near the heart and shows fine heart 
shakes over a g-ood part of its length; knots are all sound, small and of good 
character. 

Example 4. — 1x12-16. Coarse but sound heart knots; heart shakes for 4 
feet from one end. 

Example 5 — 1x12- 16. Has 10 knots mostly large and coarse; one is rotten. 
This piece was cut from a log broken in falling, and the board shows the break 
for half its width (our individual judgment would class this as a mill cull or ia 
No. 3 boards). 



19 

Example 6.— 1x12-16. Has a dozen big^ sound knots. At four feet from end a 
coarse '* limb" knot throws the grain across the board, which must he 
carefully handled to avoid breaking, but for this, o*- if sawed off here, the 
board would be £ lir 12 foot common; if left with a broken tnd, a good No. 2. 

Example 7. — 1x12 12. Is a heart board showing heart shake through the 
center for half its length. Krots small an J sound. 

Examples.— IX12-14. Has 13 knots; 6 are small but unsound on one side 
but fairly sound on the othtr. 

Example 9.-1x12-16. A board from near the heart. Knots in the main 
small and sound, but one big knot on the edge runs to near the center. If 
rippeJ one-half would make a No. i fencing strip, the other would break at the 
knot, which is too far from the end to make a good mill cull of the strip. 

Example 10. — 1x12-16. Is full of coarse large knots which are sound. One 
edge shows heart shake. 

Example II. — 1x12-16. Is a heart board of sound character, but knots are 
large and run from edges to center; could be used whole for a batten on board 
roof, but if ripped both pieces would break in two at the knots 

Example 12.— 1x12-16. Is a "liner," knots, red and tight, but two of them 
are 21^ inches broad and unfavorably located. Would rip one good common 
flooring strip and one No. 2 fencing strip. 

Example 13.— 1x12-16. Very coarse oblong (but red) knots, with sap on 
both edges of both sides. 

Example 14.— 1x12-16. A sound but coarse knot board, from the heart; 
would not bear ripping, but as a whole would make a tight roof. 

Ex mple 15.— 1x12-12. Is a board free from knots, but has fine shake run- 
ning over a good portion of one end. A novice would call it a clear, an expert 
\vould call it a "shipping cull." 

In the preceding chapters we have treated of the subdivisions of 
the Chicago price list including thick clears and select, one-inch 
finishing grades, twelve-inch stock grades and twelve-inch common, 
and we now take up the "Box Boards" grades, retaining price 
quotations as an index of the relative value of one grade as com- 
pared with another, in the Chicago market. Green Lumber is 
usually valued at $1.00 less than dry. 

BOX BOARDS. 

Mixed Lengths. — Diy. 

KOUGII. 

A Iiox 1 3 inches and upward ©i^ 00 

13 4200 

13 34 00 

13 2500 

All 14 feet, $2 extra. 

Add to foregoing prices for dressing one side $1; two sides, $1.50. 
Box boards are 13 inches and upward in width: "A" Box is a 



20 

grade which would tisiially be included by a Saginaw or Albany in- 
spector among the seconds or thirds of clear, where firsts are perfect 
and without blemish. Seconds may have one or two small blemishes 
while thirds may increase defects according to the size of the 
board, and the small area of the defects. 

EXAMPLES OF "a" BOX 

Example I. — IX1S-14. Is a board which would inspect clear in any market, 
from its size and the slight character ot its defects. On the heart side, 6 inches 
from one end, is a ^ inch sound knot which shows to sap side as a pin. Three 
feet from same end on heart side is a pin knot not over y% inchi The i)icce 
is otherwise jjerfect. 

Example 2. — ixi-^-i6. Heart shows 4 cat faces, one of which is a pin knot. 
On the sap side, one edge has a streak of sap from y, inch to i J^ inch the entire 
length; on the other ddge a J^ inch sap shows for 4 feet in the center of length, 
tapering out each way No other blemish. 

Example 3. — 1x15-16. On heart side 6 feet from end is a cluster of 5 /m 
knots, the balance of the face is perfect. On sap side, 4 of the pins show 
through. On one edge a 2 inch sap at one end tapers out in 12 feet. On the 
other edge a y^ inch sap tapers out in 2 feet. 

Example 4 — 1x13 16. Heart has no knots. On one edge a % inch sap 
tapers out in 4 feet from end. On sap side, a 3 inch sap on one edge 
narrows to 13/3 inches in a length ot iS inches, and tapers out at 10 feet. On 
the other edge a 2j^ inch sap tapers out in S feet. 

Example 5. — 1x14-16. Heart is perfect On sap side, one edge a 3 inch sap 
at end narrows to i inch in 3 feet, and tapers out in 10 fett. On the other edge 
a 2 inch sap tapers out at 4 feet. 

Example 6. — 1x20-16. Heart has a knot the size of a dime, and one of % 
inch. A Yz inch sap on one edge runs out in 2 feet. On sap £>ide both knots 
show through full size, and at one end a i inch sap runs out in 4 feet, and 
opposite side of other end a i inch sap runs out in 6 feet. 

Example 7. — 1x22-16. Heart side has a y^ inch sap, 2 feet long, near center 
of length on one edge. Otherwise perfect face. On sap side one edge h;is 
irregul;ir sap from J^ inch to i inch the full length. On the other edge iS 
inches from end starts, widens to 1% inch, and runs out in a length of 6 feet. 

EXAMPLES OF "b" BOX, 

Example i — 1x13-16. Heart side is perfect for 13 feet of the length, where 
is a cluster of 3 small red knots within a square 3x3 inches. "Within 12 inches 
of this end, 5 inches from one edge, is a knot the size of a half dollar. On the 
sap side all the knots show through, and on each edge a sap in no place more 
than I y^ inch runs out in 5 and 6 feet. 

Example 2. — 1x13-16. Heart side has 5 small red knots, none larger than a 
dime; 2 of these knots show on sap side. The board is otherwise perfect. 

Example 3.— 1X14-14. Heart side shows 5 pin knots near center, One edge 
has ij^ inches of sap the full length. Op the other edge i inch sap tapers out 



21 

in 4 feet. At one end a slight shake shows near one edge (board is fully sea- 
soned and shake fully developed). On sap side 2j^ inch pap runs whole length 
of one edge, and a 2 inch sai) tapers out at 4 feet. On the other edge 2 pin 
knots show through. (Individual judgment would lead us to call this a hard 
B).. 

Example 4.— 1X13- 16. Heart shows 5 small sound knots of good character 
well scattered. Sap side shows same knots smaller in size. One edge shows 
I inch sip for two thirds the length, and the other a 2 inch sap tapering out in 
13 feet. 

Example 5. — 1x14-14. Heart shows 11 pin knots mainly through the center 
line, with a ?4 inch knot 4 feet from one end and 3 inches from edge. This 
edge has a trace of sap for 3 feet. Sap side shows 3 pin knots and a narrow 
sap, from feather to not over i inch, on one edge, and a trace, not over "%, inch, 
for 4 feet near center of other edge. 

EXAMPLES OF "c" BOX. 

Eximple I. — 1X14-14. Heart has 14 small sound knots, with % inch sap full 
length of one idge. On sap side 10 of the knots show through, the largest not 
i^ inch in diameter, and one edge shows i inch sap full length. 

Example 2. — 1x13 14. Heart shows 10 knots from J^f to ^ inch and i size of 
a doliar. Xo saj). Sap side shows 7 pin knots and the large knot (this is near 
edge I foot from end) and a trace of sap at one end on one edge. 

Example 3. — 1X13-12. Is a good sound common board, which would rip a 
f;iir strip (having a little sap on one side), and leave a good fencing strip. 
(Indivldu.il judgment would call this a liner too good for D, but only a pass- 
able C). 

Example 4.— 1x13- 16. Is another board we consider a liner. Has 10 mod- 
erate sized knots, black, but well scattered, and show through. On sap side 
I to 1 14 inches sap on each edge. Would cut up well from favorable position 
of knots. Is a good D, but a poor average C. 

Example 5. — ixiS-14. Has 10 scattered knots or size of quarter dollar, 
sho win:? through; are well located for cutting up; a slight trace of sap on 
heart side, with a narrow sap on one edge of sap side. 

Example 6.— 1x13- 16. Has 13 small sound red knots, which show through. 
A narrow sap on one edge of heart side. On sap side sap is from i to 2^ 
inchei full length of one edge. 

Example 7. — 1x18-14. Heart side shows 14 knots, none larger than a dime, 
mostly smaller. No other blemish. On sap side 10 small knots well scattered, 
and a large surface worm hole near one end. A J^ inch sap at one end runs 
out in 4 feet. 

Example S.— 1x15- 16. A boird cut from near and showing traces of the 
heart. One edge would rip a « lear 6inch strip, or a lo-inch if cut to 13 feet. 
Has several knots, all within 7 inches of one edge, all small and sound. Sap 
side shows a mere trace of sap on one edge. 

EXAMPLFS OF "d" HOX. 

Example i.— 1x13-14. A good sound common board, sound tight knots on 
both sides, and a narrow sap on one edge of sap side. 



23 

Example 2. — ixi6-i6. A nice sound common board, showing S knots', 2 are 
size of half dollar, 2 the size of a quarter dollar and 4 size of a dime, well scat, 
tcrcd. On one edge of heart a sap i inch wide, runs half the length. Sap side 
shows 7 knots about same sizes. On one edge sap narrows from 2 inch at end, 
tapering out at 13 feet. 

Kxample 3. — 1x14-14. He irt has 3 knots size of a half dollar, 2 size of a 
quarter dollar and 7 pins. No sap. Sap side shows 3 large knots, 2 smaller, 
and 3 pins, with a narrow sap two thirds the length of one edge. 

Example 4. — 1x16-16. A scattering red knot board; 10 of the knots are 
from half a dollar to a dollar in size; 10 are size of quarter dollar, with 7 pins. 
All sound and bright. Most of the knots show through, with on sap side, a 
narrow sap on one edge of each end on opposite edges. 

Example 5. — 1x14-16. Heart has 3 large knots; 2 are size of a half dollar, i 
of quarter dollar, also 4 from pin to size of a dime. A 2-inch sap on one edge 
runs out about center of length. Sap side shows all the large knots and i pin. 
Sap of 3 inches on one edge runs out in 12 feet. 

Example 6. — 1x13-16. Heart has i knot size of half dollar and 10 the size of 
a dime, well scattered for cutting up. Sap side shows the same knots with i J^ 
inches of sap running out at 4 feet. 

Example 7. — ixi6-i6. Heart has 3 large coarse knots on edges, i black 
knot size of a dollar and 4 black knots size of a dime. No sap. Sap side has 
all the knots of smaller size and a mere edge of sap at each end on opposite 
edges. 

Example S. — 1x15-14. Heart has large red knot, one ^ inch knot and i pin 
knot. A 2-inch sap on one edge tapers out at 10 feet. Sap side shows bo'h 
large knots; on one edge a i inch sap at one end broadens to 3 inches at the 
other; on the other edge an irregular sap from nothing to 1% inches, runs the 
whole length. 

Example 9. — 1x13-12. Is a nice common board; heart has 3 knots size of a 
quarter dollar, 5 the size of a dime, 12 pins and a mere trace of sap for iS inches 
of one edge. Sap side shows 7 knots with a 1% inch s p tapering out in 2 feet 
on one edge. 

Example 10. — 1x13-12. Heart has 3 knots size of quarter dollar and 7 sm.ill 
ones, 4 being mere pins, with a half inch sap for 4 feet on one edge. Sap side 
shows 5 of the knots, of which one is size of a quarter dollar, rest are pins. 
One edge has 1 inch sap running out at 3 feet; the other has from % inch to i 
inch sap the full length. 

SIDINCi AND FLOORING STRIPS, ROUGH, 6-I.\Cn. 

i2@f4 ft $39 00 

" " 37 00 

" 32 00 

" •• 31 00 

" " 23 00 



isl and 2d clear, 16 ft $40 00 

A siding strips " 3S 00 

A flooring strips, " 3^ 00 

B ♦« " " 32 00 

24 00 



Q H li (t 



Lumber cut into 4 and 6-inch widths is known as " strips," 
and these are selected and classified according to their adapta- 
bility for use in making clapboards (known as " siding" strips) 



23 

flooring in all its grades, or fencing to which use the coarset 
strips are devoted. 

The present chapter has to deal only with siding and flooring 
strips, which may be cut from logs of any length. Siding strips are 
primarily supposed to be perfectly clear, but as there is sale for 
cheaper grades pieces having but slight defects, or defects so located 
that the clabboards will cut to reasonably clear work in laying, are 
included in an A grade. Below B it is useless to undertake a de- 
scription as for the use to which clapboards are intended, the best 
"is good enough," and the demand for poorer is too limited to war- 
rant any extended description. 

1ST AND 2D CLEAR SIDING STRIPS. 

A first-clear siding strip is all that its name implies; it is simply 
and purely without defect and' fitted to make two pieces of clap- 
boarding which are perfect in all respects. A second clear is so near- 
ly like a first as to be almost identical. It may, however, have a 
trifle of bright caps on one edge, not over a quarter to a half-inch 
wide. The character of A sidings will show the line between it and 
first clear. 

A SibiNG STRIPS. 

Example i.— ix6-i2. Heart side is perfect except a pin knot i6 inches from 
one end. On sap side a 2-inch bright sap on one edge, at one end, tapers out in 
12 inches of length. 

Example 2.-1x6-14. Heart shows 4 knots all on one edge and directly in 
the edge. They are sound white knots and two are the size of a quarter dollar, 
while two are oblong pins. On the sap side one of the knots shows through 
iS inches from end. No sap. ( I'his piece will re-saw, leaving all the knots in 
the thin edge of one piece, where they will be covered in the lap, the o her 
piece being clear to lay, except the one knot.) 

Example 3.— 1x614. On heart 3 feet from end and 1% inches from edge, a 
couple of brii^ht, small pin knots; at 4 feet a sound black knot size of a dime, 
2% inches from edge. Sap side is perfect. 

Example 4.-1x6-16, On heart side, 3 feet from end, a % sound knot in cen- 
ter of width. On sap side a i]4 inch bright sap on one edge runs out in 3 feet. 

Example 5.-1x6-14. Heart side is perfect. Sap side shows a narrow, 
bright sap from i inch at end to nothing in center, beginning again after an 
interval of 2 feet, widening to i inch and running out at end in ^-inch width. 

Example 6.— 1x6 14. Heart shows a pin knot a foot from end, and one edge 
shows J^inch bright t.ap running out in 2 feet. On sap side this sap is i inch, 
running out at 5 feet. 

Example 7.— 1x6-12. Heart side is perfect. On sap side for 10 feet long, 
bright sap varies from nothing to ^ inch wide on one edge. 



84 

B SIDING STRIPS. 

Example I.— 1x6-12. Heart has a cluster of 4 small red knots in center of 
face, 4 feet from end, otherwise perfect. Sap sideshows 2 knots size of a dime, 
showing throu}>h from heart. On one edge 3I/2 inches of white sap tapers out 
at iS inches length. 

Example 2.-1x6-12. Heart shows one cat face and one knot size of a dime 
I inch from edge near center of length. On sap side one end an inch from 
edge a surface worm hole 2 inches long (will dress out.) No other defect. 

Example 3. — 1x6 12. Heart shows a cat face pin knot iS inches from one 
end. On sap side bright sap meets at one end, but runs to nothing on both 
edges in 4 feet. 

Example 4. — 1x6-12. Heart shows a small white pin knot on one edge 18 
inches from end; at 3 feet a pin knot in edge runs on to face and another small 
pin shows i inch from it. Sap side is perfect. , 

Examples. — 1x6-12. Heart at iS inches from one end shows a dime knot 
I inch from edge. Eight inches from other end a quarter dollar knot on edge. 
Sap side shows same knots reduced in size. On one edge a j4-inch sap runs 
out in 4 feet; at other end same edge has V^-inch sap tapering out in 3 feet. 

Example 6. — 1x6-12. Heart shows 3 dime knots near center of lensjth. 
They are scattered 2 feet apart, and between two of them is a pin knot. Sap 
sideshows the 3 knots as pins, but no sap. 

Example 7.— 1x6-12. Heart has one oblong knot J^ by ij^ near center of 
one edge. On other edge a i-inc)i sap tapers out at iS inches. Sap side shows 
same sap, with no other blemish. 

Example S. — 1x6-14. Heart has 2j^ feet from one end an oblong knot ^ 
by 3 inch. Sap side shows the knot size of half dollar in one edge; the other 
edge a %-inch sap tapers out in 3 feet. 

FLOORING STRIPS. 

Flooring strips follow in regular succession, and an A strip has a 
perfect face for dressing, whatever defects the other side may show. 
As long as a strip will lay a surface clear floor it is safe to call it an 
A. The other side may have knots or sap ad libitum; a clear face 
is a requisite. 

A FLOORING STRIPS. 

Example i. — 1x6. Heart is free from all defects. Sap side shows traces of 
sap, mainly white but with a tendency to discoloration in spots, a number of 
pin worm holes and four Large but shallow ones. 

Example 2. — 1x6. Heart is perfect except a hair line of white sap. Sap 
side is solid sap at each end, with 5 feet of meat in the center. 

Example 3. — 1x6. Heart is perfect. Sap side has imsound sap for 2 feet at 
one end, with a number of pin worm holes in it; over this face we count 6 
black worm holes. 

Example 4. — 1x6. Heart is perfect. Sap side is two-thirds covered with 
discolored sap. 



25 

Example 5-— 1x6.. Heart is perfect. Sap side all sap full of pin worms. A 
narrow wane 15 inches long near center of one edge. 

Example 6.-1x6, Heart is perfect. Sap side perfect for half its length; 
the other half is mainly discolored sap filled with pin worm holes. 

Example 7.-1x6. Perfect face except a small gum knot on one edge 2 feel 
from end, showing slightly on face; will work out in the tongue. Sap side 
shows this defect about the same, with unsound sap at one end covering the 
■vvidlh for 12 inches, but tapering out at one edge in 2 feet. 

Example S.~ix6. Has a perfect sap side without defect. The heart shows 
three knots ; one at 4 feet in edge is as large as a quarter dollar. Another at 
6 feetj of J^-inch wide, runs 1% inches toward center. Two feet from other 
end is a sound red knot i inch broad by three inches long. 

Example 9. — 1x6. Has a perfect face for sap side. Heart shows along, 
edge knot 12 inches from end, near center a twin knot %xj%. Within a 
foot of it is another sound, red knot in edge 1% inches wide running 2 inches 
long toward center. 

Example 10. — 1x6. Heart side is perfect. Sap side is perfect for S feet; 
the balance of face is covered with white, bright sap. 

Example ii.— 1x6. Heart is pet feet. On sap side a i-inch sap runs two- 
thirds the length on one edge, then quickly broadens to cover the whole face 
for 4 feet. 

Example 12.— 1x6. Heart is perfect. Sap side is solid sap which has begun 
to discolor. 

B FLOORING STRIPS. 

Example i.— 1x6. Heart shows i knot size of a quarter dollar on edge 6 
feet from end; opposite edge has a sap from nothing to i inch wide for half 
the length. Sap side shows the knot as large as a dime. Sap at one end is i 
inch, varying for 7 feet when it covers the face for 2j^ feet, and runs ont to 2j^ 
inches at the other end. 

Example 2.-1x6. Heart shows from % to i}^ inches sap on ope edge 
for half the length. Sap side is solid sap except a little heart wood at one 
tnd. 

Examp'e 3. — 1x6. Heart shows one knot size of a quarter dollar 2 feet 
from end, and close to edge. Sap side shows streak of unsound sap % to 
14 -inch wide for half the lentrth on one edge, including %inch of thickness. 
One surface worm hole. 

Example 4. — 1x6. Heart shows J^ to ^-inch dark sap on one edge for 
half the length. Sap side is almost solid black sap filled with pin worm 
holes. At one end, 4 inches wide 4 feet long, heart wood. 

Example 5. — 1x6. Heart shows a streak of white sap on one edge for 3 
feet, not over iJ4 inches at widest. A slight shake shows at one end. Sap 
side has a narrow, white sap two-thirds the length, widening to cover 3 feet 
of one end. 

Example 6. — 1x6. Heart has a narrow white sap on one edge, ij^ inches 
at widest, tapering out in two-thirds the leng:|h ; on other edge a white sap 
of I inch at one end tapers out in 4 feet, at the other end at 2 feet. Sap 
side is all sap except an inch strip in center for the full length. 



2G 

Example 7. — 1X6. Heart has 2 knot ^ size of a diim; on one idge and one 2V2 
inches from edge; near one end a i -inch sap tapers out in 2 feet. Sap side 
shows edge knot and one J^- inch knot near one end; at other end sap is full 
width but runs out at 6 feet. Two feet from end is a small, short wane. 

Kxamj)le8. — 1x6. Heart has a white sap i inch wide on one edge: tapers 
out at 2 feet. Sap side sap full width at one en.l ii>r iS inches; tapers out in 
two-thirds the length on one edge. This tdgc also has iS inches of narrow 
wane. 

Example 9. — 1x6. Heart has ^-inch sap on one edge,'which breaks in 
center; on o her edge a % inch hollow knot. Sap side shows the knot sound. 
Two-thirds the surface is bright sap. 

Kxample 10. — 1x6. Heart has a 2-inch sap on one edge, tapering to nothing 
in 4 fe t. Sap side is all sap, with a narrow wane at one end tapering out at 
center of length. 

C FLOORING STRIPS. 

Example i — 1x6-14. Heart has a narrow, white sap on one edge from yi to 
iji inches wide for two-thirds the length. On sap side sap is from J^-inch at 
one end, narrowing two-ihirds the length, widens to 2j^ inches narrowing to 
end. Sap is dark and full of pin wormholes. 

Example 2. — 1x6. Heart, 2 feet from end, has a large, double red kno^ ^k2 
inches; at 3 feet a small, sound kno" near edge; at 5 feet a %xi inch red knot; 
three feet from other end a broad curl or exaggerated cat face. Sap side shows 
3 of the knots sound and red, but no sap. 

Example 3. — 1x6-14. Heart perfect for 9 feet, then a bright edge sap starts, 
which in 2 feet widens to cover the balance of the face. Sap side shows heart 
wood for 4 feet, balance all sap with considerable pin worm hole. 

Example 4. — 1x6-14. Heart shows 7 small knots scattered principally in the 
edges. Sap side shows 4 of the kno's. 

fixamole 5. — 1x6-14. Heart shows 2 small knots in center line and i on 
edge; on the other edge a 5^ sap runs out in 2% feet. Sap side shows all the 
knots a trifle smaller with sap on one edge from 214 inches at end, tapering out 
in 6 feet. 

Example 6 — 1x6-14. Heart shows one small knot in edge; the other edge a 
white sap I J^ inches at each end tapers to feath.r in center. S p side shows 
this sap 2'/^ inches at each end i inch in center. 

Example 7.-1x6 12. Heart has three knots the size of a dime, and a pin 
knot cluster. Sap side shows the 3 knots a trifle smaller. 

Example S. — 1x6-14. Heart has three knots the size of a dime equi distant 
on one edge and i pin knot in center. Sap side shows same knots smaller and 
less sound in character. 

4- INCH FLOORING SJKIPS 

are of the same general char.ict r as the 6-inch, but less defects are allowed in 
proportion to the decreased width. The mam point in view in the grading of 
flooring is to get a good face /« i//e quality designattd, A ffoodiwcG in B or C 
is not expected to be as perfect as in first and second clear, nor yet A. Yet a 
B or C 4-inch should aver.age better than in 6-inch. A 4 -inch C when dressed 



27 

often shows a perfect face, while one or two small, sound knots not over Vi 
inch well located, or a moderate amount of bright sap, does not condemn. 
Knots on the back, making- a fair face of the sap side, or in the edge where 
the tongue or groove will work them out, are no injury. The general charac 
ter of C flooring is that of a grade which by a little cutting, will lay a nearly 
clear floor. 

DRESSED LUMBER. 

A Flooring, 6 m $34 oo 

B " " 3300 

C " " 2500 

No. r Fencing, 6 in., D. & M 17 00 

No. I 10 foot Fencing, D. «& M 15 00 

No. I Norway Fencing, D. «&. M 16 50 

Clear and A, "4 in ^3 oc 

B F'loorini.', 4 in 31 00 

C Flooring, 4 in 26 00 

Norway Clear and A, 4 or 6 in 23 00 

" B,6in 21 00 

" B,4in 2100 

C.6in iS 00 

Sin., No. I Boards. D. & M., or Ship Lap iS 5° 

10 in., No, I Boards, D. & M., or Ship Lap i6 00 

A Partition, D. & M., 2 sides, 4 beads 39 5° 

B " '« 2 " 4 ♦' 3500 

C " " 2 '« 4 " 2700 

The different designations of dressed lumber simply represent the 
same grade described in the rough, after it has passed through the 
machine. In dressing it is no unusual thing for the grade to be 
raised, so that what was passed in "B" in the rough, will develop 
under the knife a face which will entitle the piece to be raised to the 
grade above. So likewise a hidden defect may be developed in the 
dressing which will throw the piece to the grade below. In a piece 
of "A" flooring, it is a requisite that there be a face which will lay a 
practically clear floor. So while the heart side of the board may be 
very defective by reason of several knots, if the sap side will dress 
free from knots, and nearly free from sap, and that sap is white, it 
will make an "A." So again the sap side may show worm holes or 
black sap, if the heart side is perfect the defects of the sap side will 
not condemn the piece. But such defects must not be of an extent 
which will prevent the forming of a perfect and solid tongue and 
groove. In grading such a piece the judgment must determine to 
what extent the defects upon one side will affect the face and the. 
edges. If it has one clear face and two clear edges, or the knots in 
the edges do not come to the face, nor weaken the tongue nor groove, 
it is an "A." We have said a practically clear face; a narro7v bright 
sap or a pin knot will not usually exclude a board from an "A" 



28 

grade, in a lot of lumber where the general run of stock is free from i 
all defect. Speaking of the defects in this grade, we may call 
attention to the fact, that while an "A" is expected to lay a clear 
floor, if no defects were admitted to the rough side, the piece would 
be a "siding" instead of a "flooring" strip, hence the blemishes on 
the rough side of a piece of flooring, are wholly lost sight of, if the^ 
face and edges are all right for a specifled grade. In delining a 
grade of flooring one serious defect must not be forgotten. A board 
may be perfectly free from knots, rot, sap, and shake, and yet by, 
reason of bad surfacing, in which the knife eats into the timber, 
tearing it, in place of dressing, leaving its surface rough, this perfect i 
piece of timber may be only entitled to the "C" grading, or may be of 
doubtful utility as "fencing" flooring. A purchaser of A, B, C, or: 
even fencing flooring is entitled to a smoothly siu faced board, which i 
will lay a smooth floor; not one filled with ridges or rough eaty spots. 
A greatly appreciated quality of Chicago dressing is in its uni- 
formity. A piece of lumber dressed at one of the many mills of i 
Chicago will fit and match to that of any other mill. Herein is a i 
hint to planing-mill men everywhere. A dealer cannot afford to buy 
miscellaneous stock from localities where the Chicago standard is not : 




CHICAGO STANDARD TONGUE AND GROOVE. 

adopted, otherwise he would soon find himself with several odd lots: 
which could not be used, one with another. The Chicago standard 
for flooring is as follows: 6 inch strips should work | thick by 5|] 
inches wide on X\\q. face; the thickness above the tongue, -/„; the 
tongue (and groove), i%; below the tongue, i\. Some markets put 
the tonoue and groove in the center of the thickness, but it will not 
answer in any market which looks to Chicago, and has no advantages 
to recommend it. P^our inch strips work to | x 3J inches face, with 
the tongue and groove same as in 6-inch. Southern manufacturers: 






29 



lose advantage in Northern markets by adopting gauges differing 
from the above. 

A and B flooring are usually piled together and sold as one grade, 
for it is difficult to draw the line between them in many cases. A 
strictly A is a clear surface, except a little bright sap or one or two 
pin knots; for examples we refer to our description on page 24. of 
the several grades. "Fencing" flooring is a good grade made out of 
common or fencing strips. If more closely sorted, so as to become 
better than an average sound common, yet not up to the ' C" grade, 
it is entitled to the designation, "Selected." Norway grades are 
usually selected more closely than white pine, as this variety of timber 




STANDARD WAINSCOT DRESSING. 

enters but slightly into the better grades of lumber, and a smaller 
number of defects will suffice to reduce in grade. 

The designation, "8 inch, No. i, D. & M., or ship lap," /as also 
the 10 inch, refers to good common lumber of the widths named. 
A, Band C "Partition" answers in grade to A, B and C flooring, 
except that it must show two sound sides, as it is dressed on two si«k:s 
and beaded. It cannot, therefore, allow the latitude for defects that 
the flooring would permit. So while a board suitable for "A" par- 
tition, would make an A flooring, a piece good enough for A flooring 
might not answer for A partition, because of the defects on one 
side. 

SIDING. — TIED. 

ist and 2d Clear, 12, 14 and 16 ft $21 50 

A Siding 20 



B " 
C « 
D *<■ 



y^ in. Drop Siding, 6 or S in., 50 cents more than Flooring. 



SO 
19 00 

13 50 
10 00 



Siding or "clapboards" is the next subject to engage our attention. 
PI the clear it is only necessary to say that it is supposed to b^ 



30 

absolutely perfect, except that in the combined grade of firsts and 
seconds some slight but not injurious defects such as a trifle of 
bright sap on the thin edge, may be allowed. These should not 
exceed one-quarter to one-half inch in width, A pin knot in the thin 
edge would not usually condemn, but the idea of a clear piece of sid- 
ing, is that of a perfect piece of lumber sawed with a -thick edge of 
scant |inch thick, and a thin edge of plump ^-inch, sawed from ix6, 
dressed to scant | after re-sawing, to a width of 5|. 

A SIDING 

Allows two to four small sound knots, or a half-inch of sap if bright. 
The knots must be small, partaking of the character of "pins"; large 
knots would not be allowed in this grade, unless in the thin edge, 
where they would be covered by the lap. The general character of 
an A siding approaches closely to clear. No shakes nor splits can be 
admitted to this grade. Reference to our description of siding 
strips, and the examples there given, gives a correct index of the 
various grades of siding. 

B SIDING 

Allows of four small knots, scattered over the face of the piece; knots 
may be of larger size if favorably located. A knot as large as i^ inch 
on the thin edge, which will be covered by the lap, would not con- 
demn. All knots must be tight and sound. Small saps if bright, 
and not extending more than three or four feet from one end, pass in 
this grade. A worm hole in the thin edge would do no harm. B 
sidin*^ is calculated to cut up to good advantage between knots, 
which presupposes them to be located so as to give fair lengths of 
perfect lumber between, or to be so small as to do little damage if the 
piece is used as a whole. 

C SIDING 

Is a fine, common grade. It may have five or six small knots, and 
will permit of one-third bright sap, when no other defects; if slightly 
discolored it will not be rejected. It may have some fine shake, if 
otherwise perfect, but it must be close, and not open-heart shake. 

D SIDING. 

D siding is simply good sound common, such as would be selected 
from a fine grade of flooring strips. It may have both sap and 



31 

knots, or if otherwise nice, may have some shake. It is the poorest 
grade into which siding is manufactured. It will make as serviceable 
house covering as the better grades, but does not look so well, nor 
will it cover with paint without shellacking the knots. Siding is 
usually put up in lengths of 12, 14 and 16 feet, but 4, 6 and 8 feet 
are often made. A desirable article is made in some markets by 
sawing from the log direct, the outside diameter of the log furnishing 
all the butts, the taper coming from toward the heart of the log. 
The sap is then edged off and the piece run through the planer, the 
bed of which is arranged to accommodate the taper of the board. 
. Siding is usually 5| and 5| inches wide, although sf is more desirable 
for Eastern shipment. 

P BBADED CEILING. — TIED. 

CU ar % in., 4 and 6 in $i2 00 

A, % in., 4 and 6 in 21 00 

B, % in., 4 and 6 in ig 00 

C, % in., 4 and 6 in 14 50 

Clear and A , ^ in 32 00 

Clear and A, ^ in 33 00 

B, ys in., 6 in ' ^^9 00 

B, 3^ in., 6 in 32 00 

I Beaded ceiling is made from the same strips from which siding is 
made, but admits of more sap on one side than is usual in 
siding. 

Clear embraces perfect lumber, same as in siding. As it is usually 
dressed on both sides before re-sawing, the defects on one side may 
reduce the grade one-half, or raise that of the other from what it 
would be in one-inch thickness. Still for clear, the face must be 
perfect. 

A CEILING 

Is made out of A siding strips, and will allow the defects named in 
that grade (see examples of A siding strips). A C strip, made so by 
a preponderance of sap on one side, may give a clear or A ceiling 
when the piece is re-sawed to f-inch, the other half being B, C or D, 
according to the extent of the defects. So a sap strip, which would 
class as C in siding, may rip to make one clear or A ceiling. In f 
or I ceiling a sap board with a clear face will make an A. Ceiling is 
generally used where only one face is required, and where sap on the 
back is not likely to be unfavorably affected by alternations of wet 
and dry, consequently more latitude is allowable on one side when 



¥ 



32 

the other is up to a given grade. Our examples of siding strips will 
convey a good idea of what constitutes the different grades of ceiling, 
so that we need not enter into more minute description in this 
section. 

COMMON AND CULL BOARDS. 

DRY. 

Common Boards, lo, 12 and 18 ft $14 00 

" " 14, 16 and 20 ft 14 00 

No. 2 Boards, all knjj^ths 12 50 

No. 3 Boards, all leniJfths 10 00 

1^4 and }% in. Common 14 00 

It is needless to enter into a description at length as to what con- 
stitutes a first common board. Everybody knows that it must be a 
good sound piece of lumber, with knots of good character. Loose or 
rotten knots, large black knots, bad shake, rot and a large proportion 
of black sap; worm holes beyond two or three, according to the gen- 
eral character of the board, and bad splits, prevent a piece from being 
classified as "first" common. It is true that there are grades of 
common in various localities, and that black knots are not objection- 
able in some; that there is " good " common and poor common, and 
that what is called poor may yet be above the grade of second common, 
as known in the Chicago market. Yet in this market first common in- 
cludes a good grade, all sound boards fit for placing on a board roof to 
shed water. Large coarse knots, an undue proportion of discolored sap 
extended shake, worm holes and rot throw a board down to second 
common. And yet in a good sound board a few worm holes on the 
edge, or in a wide board a slight discoloration from contact 
with a rot in the log, or even a slight rotten streak in the edge 
or end, would -not throw the piece to a lower grade. Heart boards 
are almost invariably thrown into lower grades, and knots running 
well across the piece weakening it, or large limb knots, will reduce to 
seconds or thirds. A sap board is usually a good common when the 
face is knotty and the sap has seasoned bright, but when it is discol- 
ored it is of lower grade, unless it will go in shop common, when one 
side can be worked without waste. A first common board should be 
lumber which will work full for any common use, either side being in 
view, and a board which will answer for any use to which common 
lumber is adapted. 

SECOND COMMON. 

In cargo inspection we have common, culls (shipping) and mill 



33 

culls. That which an inspector would usually term a shipping cull is 
the second common of the retail yard. Heart boards, when the 
heart is reasonably sound, but not sound enough for a first common ; 
large, broad knots or V knots running from the heart toward the 
edges; black unsound knots, rot streaks which are not extensive 
enough to prevent the board from being used for rough purposes ; 
worm holes, when the board is not riddled with them, heavy black 
saps and badly shaky boards are No. 2, or second common. The 
selection depends much upon the yards, some of which select closer 
than others and make their first common grades better, leaving their 
seconds proportionately poorer. Others grade closer on the common, 
making their second common better, and such yards are apt to make 
a still lower grade, that of 

THIRD COMMON. 

Which will embrace the poorer of the second common and the better 
of mill cull. Third common is drawing it rather fine, and embraces 
a class of lumber in which probably two-thirds of a board would 
work into coarse uses without waste. The general characteristics of 
this grade would be very coarse, including rot, wormy, shaky and 
other bad defects, embracing defects which, in a majority of yards 
would cause the piece to be classed as a mill cull. But few Chicago 
dealers make a third common grade, believing that anything too poor 
for seconds is properly classable as mill cull. 

The following inquiry and answer thereto appeared in the April 
15th issue of the Lumber Trade Journal, and may be considered 
as forming a portion of the Grading articles, as they have been pub' 
lished in the Journal from time to time • 

WHAT IS A MILL CULL. 

In your rules on cargo inspection (our correspondent probably re- 
fers to the rules of the Lumberman's Exchange), you describe mill 
culls as " refuse lumber." Now, will you please give me a better 
idea of what " refuse lumber" may be. I would like you to describe 
as near as possible what constitutes a " mill cull " in cargo inspection 
at the present' time. I would also like a description of the line 
boards, for instance, a board which might be a little too good for a 
mill cull, but too rough for a shipping cull. Any information you can 
give me on these points will be considered a favor. K. R . W. 



34 

Mill culls have been known in various localities and at different 
times by the designations "Scoots," "Refuse," and " Mill Cull," 
and under each designation have at certain periods and in all local- 
ities, comprised that portion of the log which was considered abso- 
lutely worthless. With the growing scarcity of timber in each 
locality, that which was at first considered worthless has been utilized 
at a value, until at the present time much of that which was formerly 
consigned to the furnace is utilized in commerce. In the early man- 
ufacture of lumber only water mills were in vogue, and when the 
sawyer struck a rotten board, a loose heart, or large coarse knots, he 
" scooted " it into the stream and let it float away with the slabs. At 
that time only the choicest logs of the tree were considered worth 
sawing, and the " scoots" came principally from hollow butts. When 
the slabs and worthless lumber could not be floated away, but were 
burned on the mill yard, or when by accident some of the stuff 
(whether from rot. knot or shake) found its way with the better lum- 
ber to market, it was usually termed " refuse," and sold for what it 
would bring. For many years, indeed up to about 1850, it was not 
customary to allow "culls," which was the designation for anything 
poorer than a good sound common, to leave a mill, and in sawing " on 
shares " or by the thousand, the mill man kept all below sound com- 
mon getting out of it, in sales to his neighbors, enough if possible, 
to pay his saw bill. When, after awhile, coarse lumber was wanted, 
buyers began to take a grade known as ' ' coarse common," in which 
slightly loose hearts and coarse knots (when sound) were allowed. 
Presently the grade of cull was made, and included shake, loose and 
very coarse knots, sap stained sidings and small rotten streaks. Still, 
the absolutely worthless lumber was thrown out, and this included, 
for instance, a piece say twenty inches wide and two inches thick 
clear for four or five feet from one end when the rot ran out in swallow 
tails to the other. Later this good end was cut off, and with other 
"shorts" has become an article of commerce. To-day the term 
" refuse " applies only" to what is ahsohiteJy tvorthless, "refused for 
any purpose." When the rules of the Exchange were adopted (about 
1856, we think) no such thing was handled in the Chicago market as 
"a mill cull," and it was therefore termed " refuse," and the inspector 
instructed not to measure it at all if he found it in a cargo. Then a 
" cull " was a piece of lumber which would work sound and good for 



36 



three-quarters of its size without waste, or it was shorter than the 
standard length (twelve feet), or it was sap stained on one side, 
shaky, or the knots were coarse, and yet while it was not fit for the 
place of a sound common, it would answer for coarser purposes. 
When, however, it would not work one-half without waste, had a rot- 
ten or slivered end, was full of coarse wormholes, was black on both 
sides, was full of loose shake, and the knots were large, loose or rot- 
ten, it was a mill cull. Later practices have led to subdivisions of a 
still greater extent, and common now embraces only good sound lum- 
ber, fit for any coarse use where finishing grades are too expensive. 
Second common takes in coarser knots, some shake, heart boards when 
reasonably sound. Some yards make a " third common," which in- 
cludes boards with loose black knots, considerable shake, ring rot 
streaks of light extent, some considerable wormholes, etc. This is 
further supplemented by some with fourth common, which is getting 
down so fine in the selection, that only those who make it have an 
idea of what the grade consists of. Last of all come the culls of such 
dealers, and if they are not refuse, worthless, we fail to comprehend 
what they are good for. But in cargo inspection we recognize only 
two grades, viz., shipping culls and mill culls. Common must be 
sound and fit for all common uses. Shipping culls are really coarse 
common. They must be reasonably sound, may have large knots, 
some wormholes, stained sap— if not too much so— may have a rea- 
sonable amount of end or edge shake, but must not be so shaky as 
to weaken the piece ; large knots running from outside to heart, weak- 
ening the piece for ripping, a rotten edge streak, anything which 
prevents its being a good sound common, is a cull. When the defects 
are greater than described it is a mill cull, and there is no inspection 
description to be given to a mill cull, further than that it is a piece of 
lumber really too poor to ship, and yet having, enough workable stock 
m It to enable it to be cut up into some of the coarser uses, usually 
with a good deal of waste. Such a line board as our correspondent 
describes, "a little too good for a mill cull and a little too rough for 
a shipping cull," should be called a mill cull every time in shipping. 
There will be a loss in handling, and the buyer should have the ben- 
efit of the doubt. 



36 

COMMON AND CULL FENCING. 

DRY. 

ist quality Fencing, 16 ft $15 50 

ist quality, 12, 14, 18, 20 ft 15 50 

I St quality Norway Fencinjj, 12, 14 and 16 ft iS 00 

No. 2 Fencing, 12, 14, iS and 20 ft 13 00 

No. 2 Fencing, 16 ft 13 00 

No. 3 Fencing, ail lengths 10 00 

4 in. Common Fencing, 12 and 14 It , '3 00 

4 in. Common Fencing, 16 ft 14 00 

4 in. No. 2 Fencing, 12, 14 and 16 ft 12 00 

Add to prices of Boards and Fencin^^, for dressing one side, $1; two sides, 
$1.50. 

Fencing is always cut 6 inches or 4 inches wide. Strictly speaking, 
it is 16 feet long, because general custom demands that posts for a fence 
shall be set eight feet apart, so that 12 and 14 feet lengths, or any 
length except 16 feet, would properly be designated simply as *" strips." 
Grading customs, however, have of late years admitted all lengths of 
strips to the designation of " fencing," because of the equally common 
custom of selecting the best of all lengths of strips for flooring pur- 
poses, in which, length is usually immaterial. First quality fencing is 
a good sound common, from which selections of C and D flooring are 
made, still leaving in 16 feet lengths that which is more knotty than 
is usually permissible in a good common floor, but of good grade for 
fencing purposes. Of this the best is selected again for "fencing 
flooring," which is usually of a better grade in other than 16 feet 
lengths than in the length suited for fencing. 

A first quality of fencing should embrace good sound common lum- 
ber, without large loose knots, and with no rot. Shake, too, is to be 
avoided in this grade, although a slight end shake would not con- 
demn, while bright sap is not usually considered a defect, although as 
a rule, all one side sap boards are thrown into "saps," flooring or 
bearded ceiling. First quality fencing is a No. i common, with 
which all are familiar. 

Second quality fencing admits of a poorer quality of knot, but 
avoids any long knots running across the strip so as to weaken it for 
fencing purposes. Sap, even if discolored, is not rejected from this 
grade, while a heavy amount of broom shake, if not of a character to 
prevent the good holding of a nail, does not throw it out. Perhaps a 
simple statement that fencing should average better than wider lum- 
ber, will belter convey the idea that a No. 2 strip is a better piece of 
lumber in its grade than is a No. 2 common board in wider widths, 



37 

but it remains that it is a grade which in inspection would be classed 
as a shipping cull, admitting worm holes, coarse knots, shake and 
unsound sap, if it is not too badly decayed so as to make a mill cull 
of the piece. 

A few examples of No. 2 fencing may be added: 

EXAMPLES. 

Example i. — A reasonably sound heart strip is somewhat shaky at both ends. 

Example 2. — Has four large coarse knots and five dime knots, all showing- 
throutjh. O e edge is wormy for four feet. 

Example 3.— Heart shows gum streaks, inclined to rot for half the leng h; 
several small sound knots and two smill rotten knots. One end is shaky for 
four feet; one edge shows a streak of bright sap. Sap side shows more ten- 
dency to rot about one of the knots; the gum streaks are sound. Sap on this 
side is two inches on one edge, the full length. 

Eximple 4. — Very knotty, but knots are sound; timber is red from contact 
with rot in the log, for sIk feet from one end; otherwise would be a common. 

Example 5. — Is a heart strip with several large, long coarse knots. 

Example 6. — Is a heart strip with shaky heart on one side. Four feet from 
one end is a coarse knot crossing the board, but not deep enough in the surface 
to materially weaken it, but the piece is a liner with mill cull. 

Example 7. — Has two large black knots, one size of a dollar, one of half dol- 
lar and several smaller. Is shaky one-third the length, shake showing on both 
sides. 

Example S. — Is a good piece to look at, but has a loose open shake for four 
feet from one end. 

No 3 fencing is simply a pick from mill culls, and need not be 
further described. The difference in length in all grades of fencing 
needs no extended remarks, as the general rule applying to the 
descriptions of 16 feet lengths, apply equally well to all lengths. 

PICKETS AND BATTENS. 

Pickets, flat, common ,|io 00 

Pickets, flat, rough, mill run 12 00 

Pickets, fancy head and dressed, selected 18 00 

Pickets, I Yz in. square, D. & H., selected 18 00 

2 in. Battens, O. G. or beveled, per 100 lin. ft 45 

1% " " " '• " 55 

T-Yz " " " " " 60 

There are two kinds of pickets, the flat and the square. A picket 
as usually spoken of, is a piece of wood 4 feet in length, 3 inches in 
width, and i inch in thickness, and is supposed to be entirely free 
from knots, shake and rot, and while a trifle or trace of sap on one 



3d 



edge would not condemn in the first grade, yet it may be broadly 
stated that sap is not allowed. In " common " pickets, sap to a small 
extent, and a small knot or two, are admissible. The standard of 
pickets is a perfect piece of wood. Square pickets are subject to the 
same rules, and these are usually cut i]{, lyi and l}( inches square. 
Square pickets are sometimes cut but three feet in length. 

Battens are narrow strips from 2 to 4 inches in width, usually about 
2% and 3 inches, i inch thick, dressed to form ^ to J^-inch thick, 
either flat, O G or beveled edges. In the nature of things battens are 
clear or nearly so, as their use is to batten cracks. They are seldom 
ripped from shaky, rotten or very knotty stock, as this would, gener- 
ally speaking, unfit them for the intended use. 

TIMBER JOIST AND SCANTLING. 





12 ft. 


14 ft. 
12 so 


16 tt. 


iSit. 


20 ft. 

15 CO 

15 00 
'5 00 
'5 00 

16 c^ 



16 00 


22 It. 

15 00 

16 so 
IS 00 

17 00 
17 00 
17 00 


24 ft. 


All 2 X 4 


$12 so 
12 so 


12 so 
12 so 
12 so 

12 so 

13 SO 
'3 SO 


15 00 

15 00 

■ ■-■ 
IS 00 


15 00 




AH2X 6 


12 so 

12 !^0 


17 00 


All 2xS 


12 00 
12 so 


'5 SO 


All 2 X 10 


12 SO 

13 50 


'S 00 
IS 00 
15 00 


17 00 




All 2 X 12 


13 SO 


iS 00 






a. X 4 to S X S . 


13 so 


13 SO 


17 00 







2 in. Cull Plank, promiscuous width $10 00 

2x4 Cull, J2, 14 and 16 ft 11 00 

Three inch joists, and heavy timber, Sxio and larg-er, extra, according to 
size. 

Under this head we group what is usually denominated " dimension 
sizes." Timber usually comprises squares above 4x4. Scantling 
comprises 2x3, 2x4, 3x3, 3x4 and 4x4. Joist includes flats of two 
inches or more in thickness from 2x5 to 2x12 up to 3x16 and includes 
up to 4x20. When we get above such sizes, "timber" is the more 
appropriate appellation. 

Timber can be made from logs which would give very inferior stock 
either in boards, scantling or joist. Large, coarse knots, if sound or 
reasonably so, will not injure in the larger sizes of timber, while the 
same knots in 2x4 to 5x5 or 6x6 would destroy the value of the stick. 
Rotten timber would not be admitted to a stick of first quality, nor, 
for that matter, in any size of timber, joist or scantling. Shake which 
would condemn in boards or small sizes of dimension, will not usually 



30 

condemn in the larger. In scantling and joist, knots must not be of 
a character to weaken the piece. No. i must be sound common, fit 
for the uses to which the size is adapted, but does not require to be 
of so fine a quality as in boards. Worm holes may be looked upon 
with less disfavor, but a large number of large black worm holes, 
especially in timber which had been killed while standing, and has 
lost its vitality, would materially affect its value, and in most sizes 
would cut the quality to a No. 2 or a mill cull. Sap in scantling is 
no detriment, but all sizes should be practically square edged. A 
small amount of wane on scantling or timber would not condemn. 
Timber joist and scantling are all intended in some way to bear weight, 
and the quality should be such as to fit it for weight bearing in the 
uses for which it is intended. A contract for " clear " timber should 
not be construed so literally as the same term would bear in boards. 
A clear board must be practically free from knots and all other de- 
fects, a clear timber of say 12x12 or 20x20 comes under the broad 
rule of inspection, that "defects may increase in proportion to the 
size of the piece." A timber 12x12 has twelve times the quantity of 
stock that a ixi2 has, and should be included under the designation 
of "clear," with a larger proportion of defects than the smaller piece. 
A contract to be otherwise construed, should specify " One, two, three 
or four sides to be surface clear" Without such specification no 
inspector would be warranted in condemning from clear a piece of 
timber showing several small knots on its faces. The same general 
rule would apply on joist. The same defects could not be permitted 
on a piece of 2x4 as on a 2x12. A contract for a lot of first quality 
timber should be construed as calling for a good quality of common 
only, while a black knot which would condemn in a board, would not 
condemn in a piece of timber. In inspection, terms are used rela- 
tively, not strictly, and when defects are allowed in narrow widths, 
they are maximum only to those widths, and may be of greater extent 
within reasonable limits as width and size increase. So also defects 
are allowable according to the use for which a piece is intended. A 
contract for road plank would not call for so close an inspection as a 
contract for the same size of material for a floor. No. i timber, joist 
and scantling should be good sound common, but may have coarser 
knots than in boards. By the consent of common custom, joist and 
scantling in the Chicago market are permitted to be manufactured 



40 

scant in thickness, or i % inches in place of 2 inches in the rough. So 
also in boards and fencing of white and Norway pine, also of hem- 
lock, preference is given to sawing which will leave the board a trifle 
scant of one inch thick when seasoned. Eastern markets have usually 
demanded plump thicknesses, but purchasers in Chicago market must 
not expect it as a rule. 

SHINGLES. 

Nothing is more subject to abuse in the lumber trade than the arti- 
cle of shingles. Being packed in close bunches, they are, to a degree, 
hidden from the close examination of the purchaser, who must rely 
more upon the representation of the dealer, or upon his knowledge of 
the brand, and the general reputation of the manufacturer of that 
brand, for honest packing, than upon any personal knowledge he can 
have of the quality of the shingle before opening the bunches. In 
the manufacture of shingles it is inevitable that the log stock should 
produce shingles of all grades, from perfect to worthless. It is there- 
fore in the packing, where the good and bad are separated, and the 
character of the packing in the care exercised by the packers can alone 
determine the honesty of the grade. In this market little or no atten- 
tion is paid to what are known as "bastard " cut shingles, which, in 
many Eastern markets, are not considered desirable. A shingle is 
four inches wide, whatever the thickness or length; 1,000 pieces, four 
inches wide, constitute a thousand. If each piece in a bunch were six 
inches wide, then each would be a shingle and a half, and it would 
require only 667 pieces (or 167 pieces to the bunch) to constitute a 
thousand. If all were eight inches wide, then each piece would figure 
as two shingles. In miscellaneous widths a buyer is entitled to the 
equivalent of 1,000 four-inch pieces. It is usual to pack shingles in 
bunches, twenty inches (or five shingles) wide, containing 250 shin- 
gles or a quarter thousand; this demands fifty courses in all, twenty- 
five on each side of the band. We are often inquired of regarding 
"dimension" shingles, which are usually packed short count. In 
answer to such inquiries we may say: Whatever the number of pieces 
in a bunch, the purchaser is entitled to so many as will equal 1,000 
pieces four inches wide when he buys by the thousand. If the count 
falls short of this equivalent, the price should be, and usually is, made 
by the huncJi, and not by the thousand. Shingles as a rule are sawed 



41 

on the standards of sixteen and eighteen inches for length. The six- 
teen-inch are almost exclusively used in this market, and the stand- 
ard thickness is two inches to every five shingles, measuring at the 
butt. A trijle thinner than this is preferred. Eighteen-inch shin- 
gles are made upon a standard of five butts \.o i% inches. The 
points should be 1-16 inch or less, but care should be taken to avoid 
"shims" or broken points. A code of rules by the Lumberman's 
Exchange has the force of a law of the vState of Illinois as respects 
the different grades of shingles, the Exchange being an incorporated 
body, with especial power to define grades and appoint inspectors. 
The grades established by this legal authority are as follows: 

SECTION 13 OF INSPECTION RULES 

SHINGLES. 

AJl pine and cedar shingles shall be not less than 16 inches in length, and 
Yi inch thick at the butt, and shall be classed and known as follows: 

The first grade is to be denominated Clear, and to consist of shingles not 
less than three inches in width; all to be absolutely perfect. 

The second grade is to be denominated Extra A, usually branded *A*, 
and this shall consist of shingles not less than three inches wide, and with 
the butts clear for ten inches of the length. 

The third grade is to be denominated Standard A, and to be not less than 
eight inches clear from the butt, and not less than three inches wide. 

The fourth grade to be denominated as Shaded A, the shingles to be clear, 
for a distance of not less than five inches from the butt. 

The fifth grade to be denominated No. i, and to include everything poorer 
than Shaded A, but to be made of sound timber, with no unsound knots in 
the butt. 

Culls are a quality manufactured from winding, worm eaten, shaky or dry 
rot timber, badly manufactured or less than sixteen inches in length. 

It is recommended that one-fourth {%) M bunches be packed in bandn 
twenty inches in length, with twenty-five courses; one-half (i^) M bunches in 
twenty-five inch bands with forty courses. Shingles shall always be full 
count, and pay shall he collected only for the number of shingles actually 
delivered, regardless of the pretended number contained in each package or 
bundle; or in other words, there shall be exacted in every instance for 1,000 
shingles the equivalent of 1,000 pieces four inches wide. 

Eighteen inch shingles sold in the Chicago market would be subject 
to the same rules as regards grade, no difference being made except 
as regards length. 

Care is demanded in the packing of shingles, not only that every 
shingle in the bunch is perfect in its respective grade, but that no 



42 

large holes should be left in the courses, and that the bunch be 
pressed solidly and secured by strong and durable bands of both 
wood and iron. Sheet iron bands soon rust and discolor the sides of 
the bunch, detracting from its appearance. Galvanized iron is liable 
to crack or disintegrate at the bend and become unreliable in a short 
time. Thin steel bands have been found stronger and less objection- 
able in these respects. The wooden band should be as light as is 
consistent with strength, and each end of the iron should be secured 
to the wood by two nails placed as near the end of both iron and 
wood as practicable. An especial nail is manufactured for this 
purpose. 

SECTION 14 OF EXCHANGE RULES 

LATH. 

Number One. -Should be 4 feet (no more, no less) in length, not less 
than three-eighths (%) of an inch thick, and one and one-half {1%) inches 
wide, free from shakes, rot, wane or worm holes. 

Number Two.— Same lenjjth as No. 1, may be less than three-eighths (%) 
of an inch thick, and must be not less than one and one quarter (ij^) inches 
wide, will admit of wane and worm holes not to exceed ten pieces in a bun- 
dle of 100. 

Culls — All that will not pass in above named qualities. 

Outside the Rules of the Exchange and their requirements as re- 
gards width, there is a partial recognition accorded in the Chicago 
market to lath one inch in width but in length and thickness as 
prescribed in the rules. In the manufacture and packing of lath 
care should be taken to pack a full 50 or 100 pieces in each bundle 
(usually 50 or twenty bundles to the thousand) of perfectly uniform 
length, and uniform in thickness, well tied with tarred rope yarns. 

BYRKIT-HALL LATH. 

In connection with the lath trade, we may mention the Byrkit- 
Hall sheathing lath, which as a sheathing and lath combined 
in one, finds a not unimportant and increasing place in West- 
ern markets. This is made from i-inch rough and cull strips, 
from 4 feet to 16 feet in length, with beveled plowing on one surface 
extending to half the depth of the board. These plowings are the 
width of half an inch on the face and % inch on the bottom, and 
from }4 inch to j\ inch deep and are placed i^ inches apart, present- 



43 

ing all the advantages of the solidity of sheathing, combined with the 
firm holding of the V groove. In this lath the quality of the lumber 
need not be scrutinized, as anything which is sound enough to pass 
through the machines for surfacing and grooving, is adapted to the 
manufacture of this lath. 

C SELECT, SAPS, "FARMER'S CLEAR." 

There are several now well recognized yard grades which are not 
quoted in the Chicago price list. Among these we name 

"SAP CLEAR." 

This is a grade of narrow lumber, used extensively for the manu- 
facture of moldings, and consists of outside boards of from four 
to ten inches in width, presenting one practically clear face. The 
sap side may be all sap, a trifle of which may run over on to the face. 
The sap may be somewhat discolored on the outside without con- 
demning the piece, and if the face is bright and clear less attention 
will be paid to the density of the blackness on the sap side. This 
grade usually comes from the first board obtained after the slab has 
been taken from the log, where the face is wide enough to edge up 
heart wood. Shake condemns in this grade, as moldings demand 
sound timber. 

A grade of "common" saps allows a large amount of shake when 
it is of a fine, close character, and takes in boards in which the sap 
covers both sides of the piece, and this will not require to be wholly 
free from discoloration, but must not be too badly discolored. 

farmer's clear 

is not known in Chicago trade, but is not infrequently found in other 
localities. This consists of "saps," at points where no manufacture 
of moldings is carried on, and includes all narrow fair faced boards 
even where a considerable quantity of fine shake is present. It is a 
grade which as a rule, would class as mill cull in a shipping demand, 
but is well adapted to the uses of farmers or in that cheap class of 
country dwellings where surface appearance is not so .closely scrutin- 
ized as in city use and yards. 

"c select" or "shop," 

while finding no place in the price list quotations is a recognized and 
important grade in all wholesale markets. It is a "cutting up" grade, 



44 

and admits any piece of lumber, however coarse, in which not less 
than 50 per cent, of the piece can, by cutting between defects, be 
made to answer the purposes of clear or select. vSo a piece which 
would inspect mill cull in ordinary inspection, and in which the 
defects would exclude it from B select or even common grades, may 
be an excellent " C select." A large portion of what we have 
mentioned as "saps" would go into this grade because of the utility 
of one side in work where but one face is required. It is a grade in 
which oftentimes 90 per cent, of the board can be utilized while any- 
thing cutting 50 per cent, clear would be admitted. 

While our description embraces the usual Chicago grading of shop 
common the C select of points further West includes only boards 
comparatively free from knots, but in which is found a larger or 
smaller proportion of shake which in the absence of knots cuts no 
figure. Blue sap on the face of the piece in amount proportioned to 
the width of the board, does not condemn. Much of what would 
be called good "shop" in Chicago yards w^ould be objectionable in 
retail yards West where little facility exists for cutting up, and where 
coarse knot stock and other defects suited for cutting up, would be 

practically valueless. 

• EXAMPLES. 

Example i. — Is a plank 12 feet long, ij^ inches thick and 16 inches wide. 
Four feet from one md and near the center, is a knot-hole three inches in 
diameter. Seven feet from the end and four inches from the other edge is 
another lar*^!! loose Knot. These knots arc so situated that a continuous 
clear strip could not be obtained but the cuttings between the knots would 
give fully 90 per cent, of the i)iece, suitable for the best uses to which the 
width and thickness is ad.ipted in short lengths. 

Example 2. — A 2 inch plank 16 feet long, 12 inches wide; three feet of one 
end is very shaky; four feet fr^ m the other end near the center is a large 
coarse black knot; 75 per cent, of this piece is clear cutting. 

Example 3. — A 12 foot, i}( inch plank with a swallow tail rot extending 
for three feet from one end, rendering it useless for any purpose, a small knot 
appears two inches from one edge near the center of the length of the plank; 
the rest of the timber is clear. 

Example 4. — Is a plank 14 feet in length and 14 inches wide, ij^ inches 
ihick; a loose heart extends two-thirds of the length of the piece, showing 
only on the heart side; from it diverge several V knots, not showing through. 
On the outside are one or two medium knots well scattered. Three inches 
ripped out of the center would leave two nice strips five or six inches wide 
with little defect in each. 



45 

Example 5. — Is ixio-16 feet; heart is a nice side without knots. P'our feet 
from one end on each edg'e a narrow bright sap begins, widening to 1 and 1% 
inches, running out in a length of eight feet. On sap side two-thirds of the 
surface is discolored, sap covering the face for five feet of the center, tapering 
out to leave two meaty ends. One edge has a narrow wane for six feet. 

Example 6. — Is 1x7-16 feet. Heart has three pin knots within ten inches of 
one end and two cluster knots 2 inches in diameter six feet from the other end. 
The sap side shows one knot at one end, at the other end the heart knots show 
in one case as two pins, in the other as a J^ inch edge knot. In center of 
length, sap covers half of the width from both edges, leaving an irregular 
three inches of meat, the sap tapering to nothing at the ends; one edge has a 
little wane in center. 

Example 7 — ixS-i6 feet; is a board which a novice would call clear, but an 
expert would find a fine tight (not shelly) shake on both sides for half its 
length. 

Example 8 — 2x7-16 feet; one side is a broad sap, heart has a rot streak at one 
end 3 inches wide, 6 inches lonr, no other defect. 

Example 9 — 2x20-14 feet. Heart has four well scattered large knots show- 
ing through. A narrow sap on sap side. 

Example 10 — 2x14-16 feet; has eight sizeable knots showing on both sides 
but fairly in line on one edge and within six inches of edge, otherwise the 
piece is clear. 

Example II — i]E^xi2-i6 feet; one full sap side. On heart, from full sap at 
one end for two feet, sap tapers along one edge irregularly from one to four 
inches the full length. 

Example 12 — 1X16-1S feet. A clear bright board without knots. Heart side 
shows broom shake for two-thirds the length, going through to sap side, on 
which is a very narrow discolored sap four feet long in center of one edge. 

Example 13 — txS-16 feet. Heart shows three small knots within three feet 
of one end, close to edge. At twelve feet from this end a punk knot size of a 
dollar shows through, with another kn A the size of a quarter dollar on the 
edge. The wood is red but sound, except in the punk knot; one inch bright sap 
shows on one edge the full length. 

LUMBER WEIGHT. 

The following table shows the average weights obtained in the actual ship- 
ment from Chicago of 20,000,000 feet of pine lumber, during an entire season : 

I'OLNnS. 

I, 1^^ and ij^ inch, surfaced one side 2,102 

The same, surfaced two sides 2,068 

2-inch, surfaced one side 2,200 

White pine flooiing, dressed and matched 1,890 

H.ird pine flooring 2,366 

Ship lap, S inch' 1,711 

Ship lap, 10 inch i»72S 

Ship lap, 12 inch i»8S5 

White pine % -inch ceiling 7^ 



46 



POUNDS. 

Hard pine, %-inch ceiling 950 

Siding. . . 865 

Piece stuff, rough ^ 2,560 

Piece stuff, surfaced one side, and one edge 2,210 

Thin clear, surfaced one side 1,380 

% ceiling 1,120 

Rough boards 2,524 

Hard pine fencing 2,910 

4-inch flooring, dressed and matched ij793 

6-inch fencing 2,433 

Pine shingles 248 

Cedar shingles .* 203 

Dry lath 502 

INSPECTION CHARGES. 

The following table shows the customary charge for Measuring and Inspect- 
ing lumber in Chicago, by force of custom, not by legal enactment. 

Straight measure or one kind 16 cents. 

" «• 2 kinds •. iS •' 

Inspecting on dock 3 kinds or more 35 " 

Lath per M .*. 04 " 

Shingles per M 02 " 

Posts $3.00 per M. Two cents additional for railroad or canal work. 

INSPECTING HARD WOOD 

(as ordered by the lumberman's exchange.) 

By rail per car $3 00 

By cargo, or partial cargo per M 40 

APPROXIMATE WEIGHTS OF CEDAR POSTS, PEELED. 



7 Foot. . 

8 " . 
10 '• .. 
12 " .. 
14 " . 
16 " .. 
18 " ., 
20 " .. 
25 " • 

30 " . 

■35 " .. 

40 " ., 

45 '• .. 

50 " . 

55 
60 



(( 



4 


. 


5 


6 


t 


7 


8 


D 


G 


D 


G 


D 


G 


D 


G 


D 


25 


30 


35 


40 


SO 


60 


65 


80 


80 


30 


40 


40 


bo 


00 


75 


70 


90 


90 


40 


50 


60 


70 


70 


90 


90 


no 


no 


60 


70 


70 


90 


90 


no 


no 


130 


130 


70 


go 


90 


no 


no 


130 


130 


160 


160 


90 


no 


no 


130 


130 


160 


160 


190 


190 


: 10 


130 


1^0 


160 


160 


190 


190 


210 


220 


130 


160 


160 


190 


190 


210 


220 


260 


250 


iSo 


210 


200 


230 


250 


300 


280 


340 


300 


250 


300 


300 


360 


330 


390 


370 


440 


400 


3^0 


420 


■J 00 


4S0 


430 


5»o 


480 


570 


500 


450 


540 


500 


600 


550 


600 


(XX) 


720 


650 


(00 


720 


6i;o 


780 


700 


840 


750 


900 


800 


700 


S40 


750 


900 


S50 


1020 


900 


1 080 


950 


Si,o 


1020 


900 


loSo 


1000 


1200 


noo 


1320 


1150 


900 


1080 


1100 


1320 


1 150 


1380 


1250 


1500 


1300 



G 

100 
1 10 
130 
160 
190 
210 
260 
300 
400 
4S0 
600 
7S0 
9(>o 
n4o 
1380 
1600 



RULES FOR MEASURING AND INSPECTING 

PINR LaUMBRR 

OF THE 

Lumberman's Exchange of Chicago, i878-'82-'86. 



Section i. 

First Clear White Pine Lumber shall not be less than twelve inches 
in width, and no imperfections allowed unless fourteen inches wide 
or upward; will then allow imperfections equal \.o sap, one inch on 
one side, extending the whole length of the piece, on pieces fourteen 
inches wide and well manufactured, but the face side must be perfect; 
as width increases will allow larger imperfections in proportion to the 
width, but not imperfections enough to decrease the value below the 
above described piece. 

Section 2. 

Second Clear White Pine Lumber shall not be less than eleven 
inches wide, and perfect up to eleven inches in width; will then allow 
imperfections equal to sap, one inch on each side of the whole length 
of the piece, if well manufactured; as width increases will allow other 
or larger imperfections in proportion to the width, but not imperfec- 
tions enough to decrease the value below the above described piece. 

Section 3. 

Third Clear White Pine Lumber shall not be less than nine inches 
in width, and perfect up to ten inches; will then allow imperfections 
equal to sap, one inch on one side of the whole length of the piece if 
well manufactured. The imperfections in this quality shall not exceed 
07ie hundred per cent, over those allowed in second clear. 

Section 4. 

Select White Pine Lu7nber shall include all lumber of poorer quality 
tlian third clear., the imperfections of which shall not exceed one hun- 
^dred per cent, over those allowed in third clear. 

47 



48 

Section 5. 

Clear White Pine Flooding shall be one inch thick, six inches wide, 

and no imperfections. 

Section 6. 

Second Clear White Pine Flooring shall be in thickness and width 
same as clear flooring, and will allow of one small knot or sap three- 
quarters {%) of an inch on one side, with clear face. 

Section 7. 

Common White Pine Flooring shall be of the width and thickness 
oifljst and second clear flooring, and may have three small sound 
knots, with sap one inch on one side, but if less than three knots, then 
sap equal to two inches on one side, and shall be free from rot, splits 
and shakes. 

Four-inch flooring strips, equal in quality io first and second clear 
flooring, shall be classed as common six inch flooring. 

Section 8. 

Common Pine Lumber includes all boards, plank, joists, scantling, 
timber, fencing and four-inch strips, that are of a generally sound 
character, well manufactured, and not included in the foregoing qual- 
ities. Boards and planks should be square-edged, full thickness, and 
have no large loose knots or bad shakes. In wide boards, twelve 
inches and over, will allow a straight split one-sixth (1-6) the length 
of the piece, when otherwise sound. Fencing should be of good, 
sound character — pieces that will not break easily, six inches wide and 
one inch thick. Scantling, joists and timber, should not have imper- 
fections that would weaken the piece so that it cannot be used for 
substantial building purposes, and uniform tn width and thickness. 
Timber should be measured at the small end, and, if much wane on 
the piece, reasonable allowance made for it. 

Norway pine lumber shall be classed as common lumber, unless 
otherwise agreed upon. 

Cargoes of piece stuff or timber containing over twenty-five per 

cent. Norway, shall not be considered standard, and all edge boards 

and inch lumber in cargoes of piece stuff, shall be subject to special 

agreement. 

Section 9, 

All badly stained white pine lumber, that is otherwise better than 



49 

common, shall be inspected into a lower grade than when bright and 

free from stain. 

Section io. 

All lumber described in the foregoing Rules of Inspection shall be 
not less than one inch in thickness, and not less than twelve feet long. 

Section ii. 

Culls. — A quality that cannot be received into any of the foregoing; 
consisting of even lengths of ten feet and upward, and so imperfect 
as not fit for ordinary uses without waste. 

Mill Culls. — Refuse lumber. 

Section 12. 

All cargoes sold under straight measure shall consist of lumber 
twelve feet and over; and where, by imperfection of manufacture, 
such lumber is reduced in grade so as not to answer the purpose for 
which it was intended, it shall be measured at only one-half (^) the 
amount in the piece for which it was intended. And all pieces con- 
taining auger holes, if fourteen feet in length and over, and bored 
only at the ends, shall be measured in full, excluding two feet in the 
length of the piece; if bored in the center it shall be measured for 
only one-half (J^) the amount in the piece. All lumber less than 
twelve feet when no special contract has been made, shall be meas- 
ured in even lengths. ]\[ill Culls excluded in all cases. All boards 
and strips to be at least one inch thick; joists or scantling two or three 

inches thick. 

Section 13. 

SHINGLES. 

All pine and cedar shingles shall be not less than sixteen inches in 
length, and three-eighths inch thick at the butt, and shall be classed 
and known as follows: 

The first grade is to be denominated Clear, and to consist of shin- 
gles not less than three inches in width; all to be absolutely perfect. 

The second grade is to be denominated Extra A, and this shall con- 
sist of shingles not less than three inches wide, and with the butts 
clear for ten inches of the length. 

The third grade is to be denominated Standard A, and to be not 
less than eight inches clear from the butt, and not less than three 
jnches wide. 



50 

The fourth grade to be denominated Shaded A, the shingles to be 
clear for a distance of not less than five inches from the butt. 

The fifth grade to be denominated No. i, and to include everything 
poorer than Shaded A, but to be made of sound timber, v^^ith no 
unsound knots in the butt. 

Culls. — Are a quality manufactured from tmnduig, tvorm-eaten, 
shaky or dry-rot timber, badly manufactured, or less than sixteen 
inches in length. 

It is recommended that one-fourth (1-4) J/ bunches be packed in 
bands twenty inches in length, with twenty-five courses; one-half 
(1-2) M bunches in twenty-five inch bands with forty courses. Shin- 
gles shall always be full count, and pay shall be collected only for 
the number of shingles actually delivered, regardless of the pretended 
number contained in each package or bundle; or, in other words, there 
shall be exacted in every instance fer one thousand shingles the equiv- 
alent of one thousand pieces four inches wide. 

Section 14. 
LATH. 

Number One — Should be four feet (no more, no less) in length, not 
less than three-eighths {}/%) of an inch thick, and one and one-half 
(l|^) inches wide, free from shakes, rot, wane, or worm holes. 

Number Two — Same length as No. i, may be less than three- 
eighths (^) of an inch thick, and must be not less than one and one- 
quarter {\]i) inches wide, will admit of wane and worm-holes not to 
exceed ten pieces in a bundle of one hundred. 

Ctills — All that will not pass in the above named qualities. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPECTOKS AND MEASURERS. 



It is understood that where the term str-ips is used in the sale of 
cargoes, the said strips shall be six inches in width, unless otherwise 
specified. All tapering pieces of lumber to be measured one-third ()^) 
the distance from the narrow end, when twelve inches and over in 
width at the center, and when less than twelve inches wide in center, 
to be measured at the narrow end; all lumber to be measured in even 
lengths (except culls), from twelve to thirty feet inclusive in length, 
and above that length timber shall be counted for what it will measure. 

Culls commence tea feet in length and theu measure the same as 



51 

Other qualities. Manufacture should be taken in consideration in all 
qualities, and if badly manufactured should reduce the grade. 

Pieces of lumber that have auger-holes near the ends should be 
measured for length between the holes, if twelve feet and over, and 
what it so measures to be called in its proper quality; if auger-holes 
in the center as well as at the ends, it should go into culls, and be 
measured full. 

Inspectors and Measurers are instructed that the rule here given, 
as to width and thickness, is the standard width and thickness for 
merchantable lumber of each grade. But when some slight deviation, 
either in width or thickness, should occur by accidental manufacture, 
so long as it will not hinder the lumber from being used for the pur- 
pose for which it was intended, such lumber shall not be reduced in 
grade on account of such deviation — it being the purpose of the fore- 
going Rules of Inspection to grade lumber so that the grades sold on 
the Lumber Market and out of the yards, shall be the same. 

Inspectors and Measurers inspecting or measuring any cargo of 
lumber shall have full control of the unloading of the lumber, so far 
as determining how fast the lumber shall be delivered off the vessel. 

In no case shall w?7/-culls be considered a quality for the purpose 
of increasing the inspection fees. 

Inspectors shall be required to draw six shingles from each end of 
each half thousand bunch, and three shingles from each end of each 
quarter thousand bunch, and to put their brand on each bunch. 

After the Chief Inspector or Measurer has received his instructions 
from both buyer and seller, given together, no attention shall be paid 
to any different instruction or suggestion from either party, given 
singly. 

When either Inspector or Measurer has been ordered on a cargo 
of lumber, and they should be delayed in doing the work, either from 
want of dock or any other cause that might have been avoided by 
either buyer or seller, then, and in that case, the actual damages aris- 
ing from such delay shall be added to the fees for measuring or in- 
specting such lumber. 

All Inspectors who inspect lumber by grades tinder the foregoing 
rules in this market, shall mark the quality upon all lumber so in- 
spected zvhen required. 

Inspectors or Measurers shall call out in quantities of not over sixty 



52 

feet (in ordinary cases) and be answered back by their tallyman dis- 
tinctly. 

No journeyman Inspector or Measurer, or any other person licensed 
by the Lumberman's Exchange of Chicago, for the purpose of in- 
specting or measuring lumber, shall be directly or indirectly interested 
in the business of buying or selling lumber, either for himself or other 
parties; nor shall any one so licensed by this Exchange receive other 
than customary compensation for inspecting or measuring such lum- 
ber; and no person shall, directly or indirectly, offer to such journey- 
man Inspector or Measurer, or other person licensed by this Ex- 
change, any sum of money or gratuity, other than the fees established 
by custom of the Chicago Lumber Market. 

The Chief Inspectors shall keep the original tally sheets, with date, 
name of vessel, names of buyer and seller, and the names of Inspect- 
tors or Measurers, and tallymen, at their offices for at least one year, 
and the said tally-sheets shall at all times be accessible to any of the 
parties interested therein. 

Chief Inspectors or Measurers are required to include the entire 
cargo in their certificates, including lumber, lath, shingles, posts, etc. 



REVISED R\JL-eS 



FOR THE 



WHOLESALE INSPECTION BY CAR OR CARGO 



OF 



HARDWOOD LUMBER. 



AS OFFICIALLY ADOPTED HY THE LUMBERMAN'S EXCHANGE OF 

CHICAGO, 1885. REVISED JUNE lO, 18S6. FINALLY 

APPROVED AUGUST 12, 18S6. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPECTORS. 

Inspectors of lumber are not manufacturers, and must measure and 
inspect lumber as they Jin d it, of full length and width (except as to 
wane, which must be measured out or inspected in a lower grade), 
making no allowance for the purpose of raising grade, unless so 
instructed by the buyer and seller. 

In Hardwood Inspection, the Inspector is instructed to use his 
best judgment, based upon the general rules laid down for his 
guidance. The standard knot is to be considered as not exceeding 
1% inches in diameter, and of a sound character. vSplits are ahvaj-s 
of a greater or less damage to a piece of hardwood lumber, and 
allowance must be made either in determining the quality or 
quantity, according to the nature of the defect. A split extending to 
exceed one foot will reduce a piece to one grade lower. All hard- 
wood lumber should be sawed 1-16 inch plump. Thin lumber is not 
considered marketable. No cull is considered as having a marketable 
value which will not work one-half its size without waste. Lumber 
sawed for specific purposes, as axles, bolsters, reaches, harrow timber, 
newels, balusters, etc., must be inspected with a view to the adapt- 
ability of the piece for the intended use, as in many cases it cannot 

53 



64 

be utilized for other purposes. In the inspection of combined 
grades of Firsts and Seconds, an undue predominance of Seconds 
should always be judiciously ascertained, as the purchaser is entitled 
to the full average in cjuality, based upon the average mill run of the 
kind of timber involved. Standard lengths are always recognized as 
being 12, 14 and 16. feet. Shorter than 12 feet does not come within 
the range of marketable, although sometimes admitted. In Black 
Walnut and Cherry an exception is made, and 10 foot is recognized 
as a standard length; shorter than standard lengths, in all varieties of 
hardwood lumber, are to be reduced one grade in quality. Mill 
Culls are never recognized as marketable, and all culls which will not 
work to the use for which the timber or the size is applicable, with- 
out wasting more than one-half, is a Mill Cull of no recognized 
value. 

Flooring is always understood to be 4 and 6 inches in width, and 
I or 1 3i( inches thick ; other widths and thicknesses would be desig- 
nated as special sizes. 

(Hickory never should be cut while the sap is rising, as it is then 
liable to powder post, and indications of deterioration of this character 
should be carefully scrutinized.) 

Newels from all kinds of timber must be cut outside the heart, to 
square 5, 6, 7, 8, g, and 10 inches when seasoned ; the lengths must 
be 4 feet (full) or the multiples thereof. 

Balusters must be cut exactly square — i/^xi^, 2x2, 2j'^x2^, 3x3, 
and 4x4. Lengths must be 32 inches. Table legs may be 28 and 30 
inches. 

Black Walnut Counter Tops must be 12, 14, 16, or iS feet long, 
I, i^{, i/^,, and 2 inches thick, and the width must not be less than 
20 inches. 

Bolsters must be 4 feet, and 4 feet 6 inches, or the multiples 
thereof, in length, and the size must be 3x4, 3/4x4 ^2, 3)4 >i5, 
and 4x5. 

Reaches must be 2x4 and 2^x4_J4, and the lengths 8, 10, and 
12 feet. 

Harrow timber must be 2^x2^ and 3x3, and the lengths 5, 10, 
12, and 14 feet. 

Hickory Axles must be clear, and in lengths of 6 and 12 feet, for 
sizes 3/^x4J^, 4x5, 4x6, and 4)^x6, and 7 and 14 feet for 5x6 and 



66 

5x7 on special order, all cut from tough butt logs ; brash timber is 
excluded. 

Ash Wagon Tongues must be clear, and 2x4 and 2^x4^ at one 
end, by 4x4 and 4)^x4)4 at the other end, 12 feet long, and from 
tough timber. 

Thicknesses shall be recognized at i, i^, i^, 2, 2^, 3, 4, and 5 
inches in all classes of hardwood boards and plank. 

When lumber is sold in this market to be measured Merchantable 
(sometimes erroneously called "Workable"), the Inspector must 
measure full, except in culls, which are to be measured at 
one-half. 

It is important that all lumber should be parallel in width, square- 
edged, and with square ends. Taper lumber shall be measured 
at the small end, ordinary season checks are not considered a 
defect. 

In Poplar and Whitewood, marketable thicknesses should be rec- 
ognized at ^, I, i^; ij4, 2, 2>^, 3 and 4 inches ; ^4, ^, S and 6 
inches are classed as special sizes. When squared, the sizes shall be 
4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9, loxio, and should be sawed ys inch 
plump. 

Black Stains, Black Specks, and Worm Holes are considered 
serious defects in hardwood lumber, usually reducing to grades 
lower. 

By " Log run" is always understood the unpicked run of the logs, 
Mill Cull out. 

POPLAR, ALSO WHITEWOOD. 

Inspection grades shall include Firsts and Seconds combined ; 
Selects, Common and Cull. 

Firsts and Seconds must be 10 inches or more in width, and free 
from all defects up to 12 inches. At 12 inches one standard knot and 
two inches of bright sap may be allowed, at 14 inches, two knots and 
four inches of bright sap. Defects may increase in proportion to the 
size of the piece. 

Selects include widths from 6 inches upward, free from defects to 
8 inches, but at 8 inches may have one, and at to inches two standard 
knots. Defects may increase with the size of the piece in proportion. 

Bright sap shall not be considered a defect. 



56 

Common shall include all sound lumber not less than 6 inches in 
width, not included in the former grades. Bright or slightly dis- 
colored sap is allowed, but black knots shall be excluded. In this 
grade not less than seven-eighths of the piece must be workable with- 
out waste. 

Culls shall comprise all widths and sizes below the description of 
common, in which not less than one-half the piece is available to 
work without waste, 

Box Boards shall be I2, 14, and 16 feet long, from 13 to 17 inches 
wide, free from all defects except bright sap for one-third of their 
width. (See instructions.) 

WHITE ASH, ALSO BLACK ASH. 

The inspection grades shall consist of Firsts and vSeconds, Com- 
mon and Culls, Sap shall not be considered a defect if bright and 
in good condition. 

Firsts and Seconds must be 6 inches wide and over, but clear up to 8 
inches ; at S inches defects may be allowed equivalent to one standard 
knot, and at 10 inches two knots, and an allowance of more defects 
maybe made in proportion to increased width. Must be free from 
hearts and dry rot. 

Common shall include all widths 5 inches and over. At 6 inches 
one standard knot may be allowed, at 8 inches two knots. Defects 
may increase in proportion to the size of the piece. 

Culls include all defective lumber — heart shake, knots beyond 
standard, and defective sawing. 

Wagon Tongues must be clear, cut from tough timber, straight and 
free from all defects. 

Floormg strips must have one face and two edges clear. (See 

instructions.) 

OAK. 

Shall be inspected as Clear, Second Clear, Common and Culls. 

Clear must be 8 inches wide and over, free from all defects. 

Second Clear must be 6 inches wide or over ; at 8 inches wide will 
allow one standard knot, at 10 inches two knots. No other defects 
shall be allowed in this grade, but their extent may increase with the 
size of the piece. Bright sap is not considered a defect. 

A combined grade of Firsts and Seconds must not comprise more 
than 66^ per cent, of Seconds. 



Common must be free from heart shake, but thick plank may con- 
tain sound hearts, if well boxed. All knots must be sound. Culls 
consist of bad heart plank, wormy or generally unsound lumber. 

Flooring must have one face and two edges clear. 

Wagon Stock must be of sound and tough timber. 

Oak timber must be sound in all respects ; sound hearts not show- 
ing on the outside of the stick, shall not be considered defects. (See 
instructions.) 

HICKORY, 

Hickory shall be classed as Boards, Plank and Axles. Boards 
and Plank shall be inspected in Firsts and Seconds in one grade, and 
must not be less than 6 inches wide ; at 8 inches may have one stand- 
ard knot, at lo inches two, or bright sap, but no other imperfections. 
Defects may increase with size of piece. 

Axles and reaches must be clear and of tough timber. 

Culls include all lumber not up to the preceding description. (See 
instructions.) 

BLACK WALNUT AND BUTTERNUT. 

Counter Tops must be strictly clear. 

Black Walnut and Butternut shall be inspectetl in grades. Firsts, 
Seconds, Common and Culls. 

Firsts shall not be less than 8 inches wide, and must be free from 
all defects. 

Seconds shall not be less than 6 inches wide, at 8 inches may have 
a little sap or one standard knot, at lo inches two knots. Sap on the 
face side shall be measured out. Defects may increase with the width 
in proportion. 

A combined grade of Firsts and Seconds shall not embrace a larger 
proportion than 75 per cent, of Seconds. 

Common shall include all lumber not up to the standard of Sec- 
onds, but available a full three-fourths of its size for use without 
waste, free of hearts. 

Culls shall include any width not good enough for Common, in 
which not less than one-half the piece is fit for use without waste. 

Flooring must have one face and two edges clear, and may be in- 
cluded in the combined grade. Newels and Balusters must be free 
from all defects. (See instructions.) 



58 

CHERRY. 

Cherry Counter Tops must be strictly clear. 
Cherry shall be inspected in a combined ^rade of Firsts and Seconds, 
Common and Culls. 

The combined grade of Firsts and Seconds shall include lumber 

not less than 6 inches in width, at 8 inches may have a little sap or one 

standard knot, at lo inches more sap or two knots. Sap on the face 

side shall be. measured out. Defects may increase with the width in 

proportion. 

(Note. — Gum spots are considered a serious defect, and when the damage 
exceeds one-sixth of the dimension of the piece, shall reduce to the grade of 
Common. Whrn t'le injury exceeds one- third the size of the piece, it shall be 
reduced to Culi.) 

Common includes all lumber not up to the standard of the com- 
bined grade of Firsts and Seconds, but available a full three fourths 
of its size for use, without waste, free from hearts. 

Culls include all lumber not up to the standard of Common, in 
which not less than one half the piece is fit for use without waste. 

Flooring must have one face and two edges clear. 

Newels and Balusters must be free from all defects. (See instruc- 
tions.) 

CHESTNUT. 

Chestnut shall be inspected in Firsts and Seconds and Culls. 

Firsts and Seconds must not be less than 6 inches wide, and clear 
up to 8 inches, but at 8 inches may have one inch of sap or two 
standard knots. Sap on the face side shall be measured out. De- 
fects may increase with the width in proportion. Wormholes are 
absolutely excluded from this grade. 

Culls include all lumber not up to the standard of Seconds, but 
available not less than one-half to work without waste. 

GUM. 

Gum shall be inspected in a combined grade of Firsts and Sec- 
onds ; Common and Cull. 

Firsts and Seconds shall include all lumber not less than 8 inches 
wide, at 8 inches one standard knot may be allowed, at lo inches two 
knots, or a narrow sap not exceeding two inches. Defects may in- 
crease with the width in proportion. 



59 

Common includes all lumber not up to the standard of the com- 
bined grade, but available a full three-quarters of its size without 
waste, free from hearts. Clear sap pieces may be included in this 
grade. 

Culls include all lumber not up to the standard of common, in 
which not less than one-half the piece is available without waste. 

HARD AND SOFT MAPLE. 

Maple shall be inspected in a combined grade of Firsts and 
Seconds, Common and Cull. 

Firsts and Seconds include all widths, 8 inches and upward, and 
to lo inches must be free from all defects; at lo inches one standard 
knot, and at 12 inches two knots may be allowed. Stains are a 
serious defect, lowering one grade or more. (Natural color is not a 
defect.) 

Common includes sound lumber 6 inches and upward in width, 
and may have defects not injuring the piece for ordinary uses without 
waste; a 6 inch piece may have one standard knot; at 8 inches two 
knots. Defects may increase with the width in proportion, but all 
lumber must be sound. 

Culls shall include all heart shake, badly sawed or otherwise de- 
fective lumber, unfitting the piece for Common, but in which one- 
half the price is available for use without waste. 

Clear flooring must have one face and two edges clear. 

Common Flooring shall be of the same size and general character 
as Clear, but may have one or two small sound knots of not more 
than three-fourths inch in diameter, or a small wane on one edge, 
which will not injure it for working its full size without waste. 

BASSWOOD AND COTTON WOOD. 

■ Bass Wood and Cotton Wood shall be inspected in a combined 
grade of Firsts and Seconds, Common and Cull. 

Firsts and Seconds shall be 8 inches wide, and clear up to lo 
inches; at 10 inches one standard knot may be allowed; at 12 inches 
two knots. Defects may increase with the size of the piece in pro- 
portion. Bright sap shall not be considered a defect. 

Common shall include any width not less than 6 inches, and at 6 
inches one standard knot may be allowed; at 8 inches two knots. 
Defects may increase with the width in proportion, but all lumber 



60 

must be sound. Slightly discolored sap may be allowed in this 
grade. 

Culls include all widths and sizes having more defects than de- 
scribed in common, whether in the number or character of knots black 
stain, badly checked, or other defects, but in which at least one-half 
the piece can be used without waste. (See instructions.) 

BIRCH. 

Birch shall be inspected in a combined grade of Firsts and Seconds, 
Common and Cull. 

The combined grades of Firsts and Seconds includes all lumber not 
less than 7 inches in width, free from all defects, except that at 8 
inches one standard knot maybe allowed; at 'o inches two knots. 
Defects may increase with the width in proportion. IJright sap in 
Birch is not to be considered a defect. 

Common includes sound lumber 6 inches and upward in width, 
and may have defects not injuring the piece for ordinary uses without 
waste. This grade will admit of standard knots, according to width, 
but no shake. 

Cull includes all lumber not up to the standard of Common, in 
which not less than one-half the piece is available for use without 
waste. 

HICKORY ELM. 

Shall be classed as Firsts and Seconds combined; Common and 
Cull. 

Firsts and Seconds must not be less than 6 inches wide; at 8 
inches may have one standard knot, at lo inches two knots or bright 
sap, but no other imperfection. Bright sap is not to be considered 
a defect. 

Defects may increase with size of piece in proportion. 

Common includes all sound lumber 6 inches and upward in width, 
not good enough for the preceding grade, and may have defects not 
injuring the piece for ordinary use without waste. 

Cull includes defective lumber in which not less than Yz the piece is 
available for use without waste. 

SOFT ELM, SYCAMORE AND EEECH. 

These woods shall be inspected in grades of Common and Better, 
and Culls, 



61 

Common and Better includes all sound lumber, free from shake 
and heart. 

Standard knots from one to five in number (according to the size 
of the piece) do not condemn in this grade. 

Culls include all lumber not good enough for the preceding grade, 
but in which one-half the piece will work without waste. 

SOUTHERN OR YELLOW PINE. 

Shall be inspected as Clear, Second Clear, Common and Cull. 

Clear must be lo inches or more in width, and be free from all 
defects. 

Second Clear must be 8 inches or more in width. Narrow bright 
sap on the face side shall not be called a defect if the face is other- 
wise clear. This grade may allow of one or two small sound knots 
not over three-fourths inch in diameter showing through, if free 
from other defects. The facing being clear, one narrow wane, 
measured inside the bark, or one inch of blue sap may be allowed. 

The combined grade of First and Second Clear must not embrace 
a larger proportion than 50 per cent, of the Seconds. 

Common shall include all lumber poorer than that described as 
Seconds, but free from shake, large, unsound knots, rot or lumber of 
less than standard thickness. 

Culls include all large unsound knots or shake, and all unsound 
lumber which will work one-half without waste. 

Clear flooring must have one face end two edges clear. Bright 
sap is allowable, but discolored or blue sap is excluded. 

Common Flooring shall be of the same size and general character 
as clear, but may have two or three small sound knots of not more 
than three-fourths inch in diameter or a small wane on one edge 
which will not injure it for working its full size without waste. 

Step Plank, First and Second Clear, must not be less than 12 
inches wide and 1 Yz and 2 inches thick; free from all defects on one 
side, except two inches of bright sap. (See instructions.) 

CYPRESS. 

Boards and Planks shall be in lengths of 12, 14, or 16 feet, i, ij^, 
xYz, 2, 2^, 3,- 3}4, or 4 inches thick, and [be classed as Clear, 
Second Clear, Common and Cull. 

Clear shall be ten inches and over in width, and free from all de- 



62 

fects. Second Clear shall be S inclics and over and clear up to lu 
inches; at lo inches and over may have two standard knots and three 
inches of bright sap. Free of other defects, may be one-half bright 
sap Clear and Second Clear may be combined as one grade and 
must be free from shakes or pecks. 

Common includes all sound lumber under Second Clear, but must 
work up full size without waste and be free from hearts. 

Cull shall comprise all unsound lumber that is available one-half 
without waste 

Shakes and pecks are always a damage in Cypress, and should be 
closely scrutinized. 

Flooring strips must hav€ one face and two edges free from all 
defects, must be 12, 14, or 16 feet long, i inch thick by 6 inches 
wide, unless otherwise ordered. 

Common, see Yellow Pine. 

Cull all unsound pieces available one-half without waste. 

RED CEDAR. 

Boards must be sound and sawed to thickness ordered. 

Posts may be quartered or squared (hewn or sawed), and 7 or 8 

feet long. Quartered posts must have two faces, sawed 4 inches 

wide at top or small end, and be straight and sound. Square posts 

and dimension lumber must be sawed to sizes ordered. 

Note. — Reference should be made to instructions under head of "To In- 
spectors," and general rules at beginning-, for all kinds, and in case of map e, 
ash, tie, hard or soft, black or while, must be kept separate. In judging of 
defects, due regard should be had to the uses to which the particular kind of 
lumber is applied, as in wagon poles, when a perfect stick, otherwise, may be 
unfit for xise because brash or cross grained, therefore a cull. 



63 

GRADES OF SASH, DOORS AND BLINDS, 

Adopted by the Wholesale Sash, Door and Blind Manu- 
facturers' Association of the Northwest, 
November i6, 1887. 

doors. 

No. I Doors. — Workmanship on No. i doors must be good. Stiles, 
rails and panels must be clear, except that white sap and water stain 
caused by cross-piling lumber is admitted, and small pin knots not 
exceeding one-fourth (X) inch in diameter may be allowed. The 
Standard No. i door shall be pinned and the wedges glued. 

No. 2 D001S. — No. 2 doors may contain knots not larger than one 
(i) inch in diameter, and may contain blue sap on two (2) sides, and 
may contain gum spots showing on one (i) side. Other small" defects 
may be allowed, but the total number of defects (not including blue 
sap), shall not exceed ten (10) in number on each side, and blue sap 
must not exceed fifty (50) per cent, of any piece of the door. Work- 
manship must be good, though slight defects therein may be allowed 
where the quality averages fair. Shaky lumber shall not be admitted. 
No part of a No. 2 door, except the top rail, short muntins and short 
panels shall be free from some defect. 

No. 3 Doors. — No. 3 doors may contain double the amount of de- 
fects that are allowed in No. 2, and the knots and other defects may 
be coarser. Worm eaten lumber may be admitted if showing on one 
side only. Workmanship may be defective, but not enough so to 
destroy the strength of the door. 

windows. 

Check Rail Wmdows may contain not to exceed two (2) knots in 
each piece of the sash, said knots not to exceed three-eighths (^) 
inch in diameter. White sap and a small amount of blue sap may 
be admitted. Workmanship must be good. 

Plain Rail Sash may contain blue sap and (small) knots. Shaky 
lumber not admissible. 

blinds. 

Outside Blinds' must be made of clear lumber, except that small 
pin knots in the stiles and rails, and white sap may be admitted. 
Shaky lumber is not admitted. Workmanship must be good. 



64 

now TO ORDER. 

Doojs. — In ordering be particular to give quality desired (ist or 
2d), thickness and number of panels. 

Aloulded Doors. — State whether to be moulded one or two sides, 
and whether raised or flush mouldings. 

Sash. — Give size of glass, number of lights in window, number in 
width, thickness, whether plain or check rail, and whether glazed or 
unglazed. 

Segment Head Sash. — If frames are made give radius to inside 
edge or face casing of window frame, or rise of casing. 

Elliptic Head Sash. — If frames arc made, send a pattern of head 
casing. 

Elliptic Segment and Circle Sash. — Be sure to state whether the 
windows are finished square inside, or the same shape inside as 
outside. 

Outside Blinds. — Describe the windows for which they are intended, 
following the directions for ordering sash. If frames are made, give 
exact size of opening. 

Fiatnes. — Give width of jambs for frame buildings, and thickness 
of wall for brick buildings. For door frames, state if outside or in- 
side frame. For windows, state if plain or check rail, with or with- 
out pulleys. 

Inside Blinds. — Give exact size of opening, size and number of 
lights in windows, distance from top of window to center of meeting 
rail of sash, or to w'here the blinds are to be cut ; number of folds, 
whether to be all slats or outside folds paneled ; if to fold in pockets 
give outside width of fold. 

Be explicit, tell just what you want as near as you can. A drop of 
ink and an extra line on the paper, don't cost as much as delay, or a 
misunderstanding of your wants. 

Conform to regular sizes and styles as far as possible. It pays in 
ordering special work, to give sections and elevations. 

In giving sizes, name width first. 

A "window" indicates two pieces. 

A "sash" indicates one piece. 

A "blind" indicates one piece, 

A " pair of blinds" indicates two pieces. 



65 

A "set" of sash or blinds indicates more than two pieces, and 
elevation should accompany order. 

Any manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds will supply you with 
an illustrated catalogue of designs, sizes, prices, etc. 

CEDAR POSTS AND PAVING. 

Cedar fence posts are cut 7 to 8 feet long, and are expected to be 
reasonably straight, while a small bow in the length will not condemn. 
They must be reasonably sound, but a small rot in the heart of a 
large post would be allowed. Nothing smaller than 4 inches at the 
top end would be counted as a post, and in a miscellaneous cargo the 
average of large and small should not be less than 7 inches. They 
are usually bought as to average size, but in the yard trade are sold 
as to individual size, so that while a cargo may be lumped at a price 
for large and small, the retailer or jobber would dispose of them at a 
price for each size separate. Punk knots, heavy crooks, or large rots 
will cull in posts. 

PAVING POSTS. 

Cedar paving posts must be peeled, and of perfectly sound, live 
timber ; defects which would pass in fence posts will condemn in 
paving stock, which is usually cut into 5 and 6 inch lengths, and in 
their intended use must be perfectly sound. Paving posts should be 
8 feet long, and not less than 5 inches at the top end. If but 7^ 
teet long the price reduces about one-eighth, if 9 feet, one-eighth is 
added. 

RAILROAD TIES. 

A railroad tie, whether of cedar, oak or hemlock, must be reason- 
ably sound, 8 feet in length,. 6 inches thick, and with a face of not 
less than 6 inches. A lot of ties should average 8 inches. It is not 
so important that the stick should be straight, if the sweep is not too 
sudden. Care is demanded, however, that they should be smoothly 
hewed, of uniform length, and square on the ends. 



ee 

QUARTER SAWING. 

So much interest has of late been elicited in the question of quarter 
sawing, and opinions are so diverse as to the proper and most eco- 
nomical way of obtaining the best results from the smallest waste of 
timber, that any practical hints upon the subject cannot fail to be of 
benefit to our readers. We have therefore been at considerable pains 
and expense to give our readers the views gathered from practical 
sources, of men who from an extended experience in the manufacture 
of quarter sawed stock, are presumably competent to speak upon the 
subject. As these opinions are illustrated by cuts the reader will 
have no difficulty in determining which of the methods presents the 
most profitable and economical product. The first demand is to ob- 
tain lumber ssLwed from the sap to the heart. Second, to obtain this 
as wide as possible. Third, with a minimum of waste. Any method 
which attains the first result at the expense of the second, and espe- 




cially of the third, cannot be profitable to the manufacturer. From a 
manufacturer in Indiana whose quarter sawed oak is among the 
widest and best stock sold in the Chicago market, and therefore com- 
mands the highest price, we are favored with the following diagrams 
showing his method of manufacture. He first illustrates the rough 
log upon the carriage, showing the top of the saw in its progress 
through the cut, and says: 

"It is a good plan to take off four or eight slabs, as this provides a 
flat surface for the head block, in nearly all the subsequent manipula- 



67 

tions. As we have aa under dog with which we can hold a segment 
of the log in any desired position, we usually take but the fou^ slabs 
at first. Let me say here, no sawyer can quarter saw lumber success- 
fully with the old-fashioned dog. He should have a 'Craney' or 
'Knight,' and if he has no under dog he will find the eight-slab 
method by far the best, bringing the log as nearly to octagon as pos- 
sible. Then split jwar the heart, as shown in diagram, laving off the 




smaller half upon the roll-way skids. Then turn the large half down 
and take off a section as shown in diagram, which is also thrown upon 
the skids, and saw up the wide cu's of the log so long as a proper 
figure can be obtained, when the balance of the section is thrown on 






its back and sawed from the corner to the widest part of the quarter, 
when, again turning with flat side to the knee commence on the corner 
and finish up. The other sections are then placed on the carriage 
and the same course pursued with them. 

"I do not find it profitable to use logs less than 26 inches in di- 
ameterfor quarter .sawing, and prefer those of 30 inches or more, 
the largest we can get." 

In November of 1886 the Southern Lumberman, of Nashville, 
treated upon this subject, and through the courtesy of its gentle- 



68 




manly managers we are enabled to reproduce their article with its 
illustrations. 

Within the past few years there has 
sprung up quite a brisk demand for 
"quarter-sawed" lumber. This de- 
mand is based mostly on the fact that 
lumber of any kind cut in this manner 
shrinks less and warps less than that 
sawed in the usual manner, and is 
really more valuable for' nearly all 
purposes, but its popularity is also due, 
in some measure, to the fashion that 
is gaining prevalence for figured oak 
and other Southern hardwoods for interior finish, for panels, furniture 
and many other uses. It is one of the most sensible fashions ever 
started, because it is a well-known fact that the greatest shrinkage in 
any lumber is in the direction of the periphery, or circumference of 
the tree, and the least shrinkage and slightest warping is in a line 
"with the grain" from the bark to the heart of the tree. To cut 
lumber as nearly like clapboards or staves are riven, with the least 

possible loss of timber, is the 
object of "quarter sawing." 
The most desirable feature is to 
secure clearness and width. 
None but the best logs 14 or 16 
feet should be cut if the high- 
est prices are expected. The 
width should never be under 
five inches, and the wider it is 
the better. All boards should 
be cut "full," so as to dry up to 
full thickness. The best thickness is i inch to 2^ inches. Thick 
lumber commands $3 to ^4 per thousand more than boards, but the 
demand is yet limited for thick stufT, and it requires more time to 
season. Our experience is that it is better to dry quartered oak before 
trimming off the bevel edge and the sap, as this plan gives a more 
perfect board, but it costs more, and some good mill men differ with us 




60 




The diagrams given on this , 
sheet are exact engravings from 
the rough pencil sketches sent 
us by practical sawmill men, 
and the descriptions are given 
in their own language. 

The plan mostly used by the 
band mills in this city is that of 
Mr. J. D. Allen, superintendent 
of Levi Langham's mills in this 
city. It is best to have lower 
dogs, but not absolutely neces- 
sary, as we have seen good work 
done by using wedges on the 
head-blocks. P'ollowing are the 
best known plans for cutting 
quarter stuff : 

J. D. ALLEN, NASHVILLE, TENN. 

First cut, halving the log. 
Second cut, an eighth into 
boards. Third cut, another 
eighth into boards. Fourth cut, 
another eighth into boards. 
Fifth cut, another eighth into 
boards, The other half of the 
log is cut in the same manner. 

DAVID G. GREEN, BELLEFON- 
TAINE, O. 

Fig. I shows a log full and 
the way it should be quartered. 
Fig. 2 shows a quarter on block 
and the way it should be sawed 
for "quarter sawed." Fig. 3 
shows a log cut the way it 
should be sawed to get "grain- 
sawed" lumber. Fig. 4 shows 
a grain-sawed board and the 



70 

way it would warp. Fig. 5 shows a board warped at the center only, 
"which illustrates itself." Fig. 6 shows a board sawed directly 
through the heart. It will not warp, but will burst open at A ; it 




A 

green's method. 

will not shrink in width, but will get thinner. It will warp in the di- 
rection of the bark. That is why quarter sawed lumber should never 
be edged up until it is seasoned. 

M. C. ADAMS, ELLETTSVILLE, IND. 

Fig. I represents a log that is quartered by sawing through the 
center first, and then splitting the halves in center. Lay quarter on 
blocks with bark side down and saw it as represented in the drawing. 
The object of "quartering" is to show the grain of the timber, and I 
think this way the best. Fig. 2 represents a log that is too small 
to quarter. The part that is not lined off may be sawed as the sawyer 
may wish, the balance if sawed as represented in drawing, will sell 
as "quartered" lumber, for it is plain to be seen that it will show the 
grain or figure as well as if the log had been quartered. 

T. M. & J. C. DICKSON, INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 

We notice in your issue of Oct. i, you wish ideas in regard to 
quarter sawed oak. We inclose you a diagram showing the method 



71 




M. C. ADAMS METHOD. 



72 

we have used for years, and with great advantage, and if of any bene- 
fit to you in your investigations, you are welcome to it. 

1. Take octagon A (right hand at top), saw off B, three inches 
from center. 

2. Turn A down flat and cut off C. 

3. Turn A down again and cut ofi D. 

4. Turn A back and cut ofi 6x6 of heart. 

5. Turn A heart side down, and finish in boards. 

6. Put C on blocks and cut boards as indicated. 

7. Finish balance of C as indicated in G. 

8. Cut E and B same as C 

All the sap boards are saved in making the octagon, and the heart 
is made into a 6x6. Use no log less than 26 inches in diameter at 
the small end. 




Dickson's method. 

July 9, 1887, our esteemed contemporary, the NottJnvestern Ltim- 
berman, contained the following communication upon an important 
branch of this subject, which by their courtesy, we are permitted to 
use in this connection. ' 

Dayton, O., July 2. — Please find inclosed a blue print of our 
plan of sawing edge grain flooring. It has been used four years. 



73 

with good success, both in Norway and in Southern pine. Our 
object in sending it to you is to ask you to publish it in your paper 
for the benefit of the lumbermen who are writing to us for it. We 
supposed by this time that all had got hold of the plan, but to-day 
wc have had applications for about twenty, so we thought it would 
be an advantage to lumbermen generally to have this little diagram 
illustrated. 




PLAN FOR SAWING EDGE GRAIN FLOORING. 

First square log. 8 inch face heart. Then sa7v lines, I, 2, 3, 4, 
and e^, after 70 Inch rip up cants A and B together. Scale, ij^ inch 
to I foot. 

This plan is practically adapted to a gang mill, by taking out some 
of the saws in canting, and then running the cants througti the full 
gang. In fact, any mill devoted to ilooring could make it to good 



74 

advantage by using two gangs, the one with part of the saws left out 
to cant the logs, and the other with all the saws in to finish up the 
cants. The margin is supposed to represent the sap on Southern 
pine. Barney & Smith Mfg. Co. 

"Grained" sawing is included in the diagrams and notes present- 
ed by Mr. Green, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and will not be confound- 
ed with quarter sawing. In this it will be seen that the object is to 
saw all around the log in order to bring out the beautiful grain which 
can be produced only by bastard sawing. Grained lumber is unfit 
for floors or wearing surfaces, because it parallels the circles of 
growth, which have a tendency to separate the one from the other. 
Quarter sawing is produced by cutting the medullary rays at 
right angles with the circles of growth, leaving the edges of the rays 
disintegrated, so to speak, upon the surface, and these being the 
hardest or "horny" portion of the wood growth, not only remain 
solid under frictional wear, but present a beautiful mottled appear- 
ance highly prized in finished wood. 



READY RECKONER. 

SCANTLING, JOIST, AND TIMBER. 





12 


14 


16 


18 


20 


22 


24 


26 


28 


30 


2X 4 


8 


9 


II 


12 


13 


IS 


16 


17 


19 


20 


2X 6 


12 


14 


16 


18 


20 


22 


24 


26 


28 


30 


2X 8 


16 


19 


21 


24 


27 


29 


32 


35 


37 


40 


2XIO 


20 


23 


27 


30 


33 


37 


40 


43 


47 


50 


2X12 


24 


28 


32 


36 


40 


44 


48 


52 


56 


60 


3XIO 


30 


35 


40 


45 


SO 


55 


60 


65 


70 


75 


3x12 


l^ 


42 


48 


5} 


60 


66 


72 


7S 


S4 


90 


4x 4 


16 


19 


21 


24 


27 


29 


32 


35 


37 


40 


4x 6 


24 


28 


32 


36 


40 


44 


48 


52 


56 


60 


6x 6 


36 


42 


48 


54 


rx) 


66 


72 


7S 


84 


90 


6x 8 


48 


56 


6| 


72 


So 


88 


96 


104 


112 


120 


8x 8 


64 


75 


S5 


96 


107 


117 


128 


139 


149 


160 


Sxio 


So 


93 


107 


120 


nz 


147 


160 


173 


1S7 


200 


10x10 


100 


117 


133 


150 


167 


1S3 


200 


217 


233 


250 


10x12 


120 


140 


160 


180 


200 


220 


240 


260 


2S0 


300 


12x12 


144 


16S 


192 


216 


240 


264 


28S 


312 


zif^ 


360 



SUPPLEMENT. 

YELLOW PINE. 

RULES FOR GRADING, CLASSIFICATION AND GAUGES, AS ADOPTED 
BY THE SOUTHWESTERN LUMBER ASSOCIATION IN CONVENTION 
AT TEXARKANA, FEBRUARY 27 AND 28, 1888. 

Flooring. — Fii'st and second clear flooring to be well manufact- 
ured, to be free of knots and other defects. Bright sap is admissible. 

Star admits of three sound knots of Yz inch in diameter, or of one 
of I inch, or of slight sap stains, but not more than three defects to 
be in any one piece. 

No. I Common admits of sap stains and sound knots. No board 
will be admitted in this grade which will not lay without waste. 

No. 2 Common admits of more defects, but no board shall be in- 
cluded in this grade which will not lay with a waste of one-quarter of 
the piece. 

Rift sawed flooring admits not to exceed three sound knots not over 
Yz inch in diameter, and the angle of the grain must not exceed 45 
degrees. 

Boards. — Fii'st and second clear finishing and step plank shall not 
be less than 8 inches wide, and up to 10 inches be free of all defects. 
Width over 10 inches and up to 12 inches may have one sound knot 
^ of an inch in diameter, or knots equal to this on one face. Over 
12 to 14 inches may have two such knots, and three such knots over 
14 inches. Bright sap is admissible. The above specifications shall 
apply to the face side of the board. 

Star Finish shall not be less than 8 inches in width and shall 
admit of sap stains and of three sound knots equivalent to 3 inches in 
diameter, and on face side. 

First Common admits of sound knots without regard to size or num- 
ber, but shall be free from wane or splits that would materially injure 
the board. 

No. 2 Common consists of lumber not as good as first common, but 
admits of no board that cannot be used with a waste of one-fourth. 

75 



76 

Fencing.— A''^. / Common fencing shall be well manufactured and 
4 and 6 inches wide and admits of sound knots that do not materially 
impair the strength of the piece. 

No. 2 Fencing consists of lumber not as good as first common, that 
can be used without a waste of more than one-quarter. 

Dimensions.— Piece stuff and small timbers, shall be well manu- 
factured with not less than three square edges, free of unsound knots; 
seasoning checks and shakes admissible to one-eighth the length of 
the piece. Timbers of loxio and over may have a 2-inch wane on 
one corner or its equivalent if on two or more corners, one-fourth of 
the length of the piece. 

Sizes.— The standard thickness of inch flooring shall be 13-16 inch; 
of \]i inch flooring shall be i 1-16 inch; of )i ceiling 9-16; oi Yz 
ceiling, 7-16; of )^ ceiling, 5-16. 

The standard width of 4 inch shall be zV?> inch face; of 6 inch, ^yk 
inch. Sized dimension shall be worked Y% inch off thickness and 
edge of 2x4; 2x6 and over to be worked Y% inch off thickness and Yz 
inch off edge; 4x4 and 4x6, one side and one edge, Y% o^I 4>^4 and 
4x6, four sides Yz ii^ch off. 

Inch boards are finished surfaced one or two sides to 13-16; \]i 
inch boards surfaced one or two sides, i 1-16 inch; i^^inch boards 
surfaced one or two sides, i 5 16 inch. 

Weight. — 

Flooring 13-16 inch, ) * POUNDS. 

" 11-16 " \ -^'300 

" I 5-16 " \ 
Ceilinff, rs inch Ji^ 

«« y " .. • 'kIOO 

«« SA " ■■' i/«o 



^8 



Bev. Sidinja: from inm .■,locK \fyoo 

" " 1I4 inch stock '.Soo 

Drop siding^ 13-16x0 " "• ^'3°° 

Moulded Casing^s and Rase ^'J°° 

Finishinjr 2,boo 

Common Boards and Fencing, S i or 2 S z.boo 

«« " Rouuh 3.200 

2x4, 2x6, 2xS, S I S and i E 2,500 

" «' Rotiiih 3,200 

I'xioand 2x12, S 1 S atnl i K 2,800 

" « Roiijjh .S.400 

.ixiand4x6, S I S and I K 3.ooo 

'« •• Routjh 3.^'oo 

6x6, 6x8 and SxS S i Sand i E 3,<«o 

»« " Rough ^.ooo 

8x10 and over " 4,ooo 



77 

Gauges. — In the standard thickness of 13-16 flooring, the groove 
shall be located 7-32 from the bottom, the opening to be Q-32, leaving 
5-16 above the groove to face of the board. The tongue shall be 
located 7-32 from the bottom, be 4-16 thick, leaving a shoulder 11-32 
above the tongue. 

Depth of groove ^ inch, and length of tongue 5-1C. In 1% inch, 
I inch, or ^ inch flooring the tongue and groove shall be located the 
same distance from the bottom as in 13-16 inch. 

1 54!" flooring shall be dressed to 1 1-16 inch instead of 1% inch. 

The shinier matching is adopted for ceiling in regard to location of 
tongue and groove for ^, ^ and ^ ceiling. 



RULES FOR GRADING AND CLASSIFICATION, AS 

ADOPTED BY THE YELLOW TINE LUMBER 

ASSOCIATION, OF ALABAMA, GEORGIA, 

FLORIDA, AND MISSISSIPPL 

FIRST AND SECOND CLEAR D. AND M, FLOORING 

shall hi clear of knots on dressed side, but may contain all bright 
well-worked sap; two or three small pin knots not over half of one 
inch in diameter on heart face will be allowed. 

COMMON D. AND M. FLOORING 

shall not contain any first and second clear, but may contain all sound 

knots, some splits, but no blue or loose knots. 

STANDARD D. AND M. FLOORING 

shall be fifty per cent, of first and second clear and fifty per cent, of 
common. 

STEP STUFF 

shall be free from knots on best side; may have two inches bright sap 
on edge and kiln splits not over twelve (12) inches long at ends. 

STANDARD BOARDS 

shall be run of logs, but no loose knots or blue sap. 

FIRST AND SECOND ROUGH LOARDS 

shall contain no knots on best side, and may contain all bright sap. 
No shakes will be allowed. Kiln splits not over twelve inches will 
be allowed. 



• 78 

THE RULES OF INSPECTION OF SOUTHERN POPLAR 

MANUFACTURERS' AND DEALERS' ASSOCIATION, 

ORGANIZED AT CINCINNATI, MAY 14, 1S88. 

In poplar lumber inspection rules the inspector is instructed to use 
his best judgment, based upon the general rules laid down for his 
guidance. He must inspect all boards and plank on the poorest side. 
The standard knot is to be considered as not exceeding i 1-4 inches 
in diametei, and of a sound character. Splits are always a greater or 
less damage to poplar lumber, and will reduce a piece to one grade 
lower if the split is over 12 inches in length in boards and plank, or 
6 inches in strips, but splits must be straight and in one end only to 
be allowed. All lumber must be sawed so that it will be of the stand- 
ard thicknesses when seasoned. All lumber must be sawed square 
edged, unless otherwise ordered, and boards and planks having bark 
and wane must be reduced one grade and measured inside wane or 
bark. All boards i inch and under thick shall be measured face 
measure; if sawed scant it must be placed in next thickness below. 
All badly mis-sawed lumber shall be classed as culls. No cull is con- 
sidered as having a marketable value which will not work one-half its 
size without waste. The lumber sawed for specific purposes must be 
inspected with a view to the adaptability of the piece for the intended 
use, as in many cases it cannot be utilized for the purpose. In the 
inspection of combined grade of firsts and seconds, 60 per cent, shall 
be firsts, and may contain 40 per cent, seconds. Standard lengths are 
always recognized as being 12, 14 and 16 feet, but 10 per cent, of 10 
foot lengths may be allowed. Shorter than 10 foot does not come 
within the range of marketable, although sometimes admitted. 
Squares. The sizes shall be 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9 and loxio. 
Worm holes are to be considered as one of the most serious defects in 
poplar lumber. 

FIRST CLEAR — I TO 2 INCHES IN THICKNESS. 

Shall be 8 inches and upward wide, and absolutely clear up to lo 
inches in width. At ii inches i inch of bright sap will be allowed. 
At 12, 13, 14 and 15 inches wide 2 inches of bright sap will be 
allowed, or i standard knot. At 16 inches and over in width, 3 inches 
of bright sap on one edge will be allowed, or 2 standard knots. ^ 



79 

SECOND CLEAR — I TO 2 INCHES IN THICKNESS. 

Shall be 8 inches and upward in width, and at 8 and g inches wide 
will admit of i inch of bright sap, but no other defects. At lo, ii 
and 12 inches wide will admit of 2 inches of bright sap and i stand- 
ard knot. At 13, 14 and 15 inches wide will admit of 3 inches of 
bright sap and i standard knot, or 2 standard knots if there is no sap. 
At 16 inches and over will admit of 5 inches of bright sap and i stand- 
ard knot; if there is no sap then 3 standard knots will be admitted. 

2|, 3 and 4 inches, first and second, shall be 10 inches and over 
wide; f , h, f and |, first and second clear, shall be i(J inches and over 
wide, and contain not less than 75 per cent, firsts. 

SQUARES. 

Shall be of the combined grades of first and second clear; 4x4*3 
must be clear of all defects excepting i inch of sap on the face side; 
5x5 and 6x6 will admit af 2 inches of bright sap on one face; 7x7,. 
8x8 and loxio will admit of 3 inches of bright sap on one face. 

Squares must be free of hearts and unsound knots. 

•SAP CLEAR. 

Shall be sound but not black, and 6 inches and over in width, and 
free of all defects. 

COMMON. 

Shall include any width not less than 6 inches, and will allow of 
bright or discolored sap and knots beyond those described in second 
clear. Two unsound standard knots will be allowed in this grade, if 
over 12 inches wide; and straight splits shall not be considered a de- 
fect; otherwise lumber must be sound. 

CULL. 

Shall include all grades not up to the standard of common, and 
must be available one-half of its size without waste. 

POPLAR STRIPS. 

Shall be 4 and 6 inches wide and known as clear, second clear and 
common. Clear' shall be free of all defects. Second clerfr may have 
bright sap, but free of other defects. Common may contain from i 
to 4 standard knots, and a slight amount of discolored sap. 



80 

GRADES OF MANUFACTURED LUMBER. 

Beveled Siding — Worked to 5| inches wide. 

Firsts and Seconds — i inch sap or i small knot admitted on thin 
edge, but no other defect; selects — sound sap is no defect; common — 
may contain not to exceed 3 standard knots or pin holes, sap no 
defect. 

Ceiling and patent siding — Firsts and seconds; one clear yellow 
face; selects — sound sap is no defect; common — not to exceed 3 stand- 
ard knots. 

Casing and base — Same as ceiling. 

Flooring — To be worked 3^ and 5 finches wide ; firsts and seconds, 
one clear yellow face; selects -sound sap is no defect; common — 4 or 
more standard knots, sap is no defect. 

Mouldings — Sap is no defect. 

All worked material to be sold count measure. 

A resolution was adopted to avoid having the Association classifi- 
cation interfere with the local market of any member, and afterward 
another resolution was adopted defining such local trade as that which 
could be reached by team delivery from, the point of location. 

The standard weight agreed upon for dry inch poplar lumber, in 
the rough, was 2,800 pounds. 

Nashville was made the point of distribution to which all prices 
applied, and the basis for adjusting freight rates. 

The committee's report on dressed lumber was accepted, and 
weights on the same were adopted, as follows, to the thousand feet: 

Bevel sidina: 900 pounds. 

Ceiling, % Soo " 

% 1,250 " 

♦• % 1,500 " 

" % .2,000 " 

One-inch lumber and over, board measure 2,250 '* 

EFFECT OF SAP. 

Sap in all woods is a serious defect when it has become sour and 
discolored, and the defect magnifies under the manipulation of an 
inspector, beyond what it would do in the hands of one who by im- 
mediate use can check the tendency to decay. When oak or any 
other wood has lain too long in a pile, incipient decay begins, and if 
it is now moved and placed in yard stock, where it may lie an indefi- 
nite time before going into actual use, the chances arc that the 



81 

Stained spots will show up so soft with decay, as to render them unfit 
for the purpose originally intended. This is particularly the case 
with maple, which has been stacked solid when green, or but par- 
tially seasoned; blue spots will appear on the surface, which in a 
few weeks may be lifted out with the point of a knife, leaving a 
pock-marked surface, which the ordinary shaving will not remove. 
It is apparently, to the casual observer, but a trifling thing, doing no 
damage to the board, but the experienced handler will appreciate the 
fact that the decay which has thus begun, is a cancer which threatens 
the durability of the piece. As to the extent of damage, each piece 
of lumber is subject to individual conditions, which can only be 
determined by examination. We can only add generally: If sap 
dries bright it is not in this market considered a defect; if it is dis- 
colored, it is an injury to the extent of its depth and breadth, of 
which only a competent inspector is a proper judge. Wood stain, 
not arising from sap, but by one board lying on top of another is a 
damage, whose extent must be determined by the condition of each 
piece. If it has lain long enough, it will be in much the same con- 
dition as a board which has lain upon the ground for some months, 
and the spots but indicate the places where the incipient decay has 
made the most progress. 

RE-MEASURING CARGOES. 

It is an unwritten law, but one which has been in vogue upon the 
lakes for the past forty years, that a vessel being entitled to freight 
on all she carries, in case of dissatisfaction and re-tally, the party in 
error must pay the bill. A slight difference would not entitle the 
vessel to put the consignee to the expense of re -measuring, but a 
difference sufficient to raise a presumption of fraud on the part of the 
shipper in billing below actual quantities, would entitle the vessel to 
demand not only the extra freight but the expense of correcting the 
error or fraud. When cargo-lumber is measured in Chicago, a 
variation of one per cent, is allowed between shipper's tally and Chi- 
cago tally ; if the difference is more than one per cent., a third tally 
is ruleable, the expense of which falls upon the party in error, and we 
have known the attendant expense to reach as high as $400 in one 
case, and it was paid by the chief or employing inspector without a 
grumble, when the fact of error was at last established, and the 



82 



responsibility placed. It is a safe proposition in law and in custom 
that a man who makes an error or commits a fraud, shall nuke the 
losses of innocent parties c^ood in the matter. 



SNIDE SHINGLES. 

It is unfortunate that a sentiment prevails in some localities not 
only in the South but in the North, that "Chicago don't care whether 
the shingles are good or bad, if they are only in the shape of shingles." 
We must confess that Chicago dealers in the past have done much to 
cultivate the sentiment, by ignoring their own established rules of 
inspection, and permitting manufacturers to ship rag tag and bob 
tail, and paying about the same price in many cases as for clear 
shingles. Chicago's *A* is in many cases, if not a majority, a 
delusion and a cheat, and those who deal in some brands are begin- 
ning to be looked at in the same light as was the "shingle weaver" of 
the East 30 years ago, "a poor coot." Some of them however do 
know the difference between an honest shingle and a bunch of edg- 
ings, and it is getting to be a dangerous experiment to ship cull stock 
to this market. After a few shipments that do not pay the freight, 
our Southern friends will learn that if they desire to build and hold a 
market in the North, they must keep their knots, pecks, sap, rot, split 
and thin shingles for home consumption, and must be able to 
guarantee that every bunch contains only perfect shingles — 16 inches 
long, 5 to 2 inches at the butt, uniform in thickness, the points solid 
and uniform (not feathered) and 1-32 thick, bunches full count and 
packed solid. They must average good width, and nothing under 3 
inches wide should go in the bunch, and very few of them. The 
band must be strong and the bunch well pressed. If these conditions 
are observed, cypress shingles have a mission in the North, but for 
every bunch that does not reach these requirements, the sale of a car- 
load is lost. 

MEASURING ''MERCHANTABLE." 

"When lumber is sold in this miirket to he measured iiurchant;iblc (some- 
times erroneously called 'workihle') the inspector nuist me.isur ■ full, except in 
culls, which are to be measured at one-h.ilf." (See H.irdwuod Rules.) 

The inspection of oak under the rule is in grades of Clear, Second 
Clear, Common and Culls. If a buyer purchases merchantable, he 



83 

is supposed to get a full mixed log run, not all clear, second clear or 
common, but a fair proportion of each, and the price is fixed accord- 
ingly, • If the defects in each piece are to be measured out, the 
measurement remains simply a clear. If this is agreed upon, the 
price should correspond. All that a buyer of "merchantable" can 
claim is that he be given the full run of the log at full measurement, 
culls measured at one-half. The rules say: '■'Mill culls are never 
recognized as merchantable, and all culls which wiclnot work to the 
tise for tvhich the timber or the size is applicable, 'j::ihout wasting 
mo)e than one-half, are mill culls of no recognized valwj." 

We are aware that certain buyers and certain so-call2'J iaspectors> 
claim to measure out all defects in measuring merchantab!*^. and if a 
specific bargain between buyer and seller calls for that construction, 
it is all right ; but when the contract simply calls for "merchantable" 
measure, it is no more nor less than robbery, downright stealing. It 
is to be regretted that there is a wailful ignorance exhibited by many 
hardwood inspectors, (so called), not only in Chicago, but in nearly 
all hardwood markets, in that they ignore the printed rules and follow 
rules, whims, and caprices, which have no recognition outside thcii 
own dishonest craniums. It is equally to be regretted that in nearly 
all the markets there are to be found dishonest merchants, men who 
stand well in the communities in which they dwell, men who wouW 
scorn to pick a pocket or do an openly dishonest act, who are willing 
to reap the benefit of the dishonesty of a so-called inspector, in rob- 
bing a manufacturer out of one-half the value of a carload of lumber, 
and ease their consciences by throwing the responsibtlity on to the 
shoulders of the inspector, well knowing that if he would not steal 
for them he would not get their work. There are such men in New 
York, Boston, Philadelphia, and all the rest of the big hardwood 
markets, not excepting Chicago. 

TEACHING A NOVICE. 

[From Lumber Trade Journal, March i, iSSS.] 

Janesville, Ala., Feb. 18, 1888. 
Editor Journal: 

Will you kindly advise me if I can get any book giving instructions by 
which a novice may acquire proficiency in estimating stumpage, or number of 
feet per acre of standing timber. What is the best and cheapest work, and 

where can it be had ? 

« « * « 



84 

We do not know of any such book outside of a good lumber jour- 
nal (modesty prevents our saying "Lumber Trade Journal.") 
Aside from these, a book about 5 feet 6 high, weighing fron> 150 to 
175 pounds avoirdupois, capable of swallowtng about four pounds of 
salt pork per day, and rivaling the pedestrians who recently walkeil 
100 miles a day in New York, in point of endurance; a book 
written upon the brain of a man who has made his home in the wild 
woods, is the only work of any reliability of which we have knowledge. 
Our advice would be: 1st, Get such a book (?) 2d. Go yourself. 
3d. Send a boy. If you adopt the second or third proposition, you 
will first need an outfit. This is not to be found in the parlor of a 
$4 a day hotel; nor by smoking 25 cent cigars. Get a pair of army 
blankets and a packing strap, a frying pan and a tin pail, a big 
chunk of salt pork or bacon, a few quarts of beans and a bag of flour, 
(some land lookers carry their flour in a bottle, claiming superior 
virtue in the extract). Don't forget a plug of black tobacco and a 
briar-wood pipe. An axe and a rifle come handy. If you are a 
novice with an axe, don't take a double barreled (beg pardon, double 
bitted) one, lest when you come to use it, you find it making more 
havoc on your leg than in a tree. 

Thus provided, with a folding rule, a log book and a memo- 
randum book in your pocket, you start for the forest. You strap the 
goods, made up in a pack weighing 75 to 100 pounds, upon your 
shoulders. If you have no suitable packing strap, take off your 
drawers and pass the legs through the ropes and over your shoulders; 
it makes a good substitute. Thus equipped, you are ready for an 
exploring trip. Calfskin boots and morocco slippers are not recom- 
mended for woods wear, and kid gloves are out of place. First, 
find a section corner to make sure you are on the right land. Look 
the ground over for a while, pick out an average spot of timber, pace 
off 72 paces square, and cut down an average size tree. If you don't 
manage to lodge it in another, and it don't kick back and knock you 
down, measure it off into 16 feet lengths, and by your log tables (if 
you have none we can supply you for 35 cents), find out how many 
feet there are in it. Count the trees on the acre, and you can figure 
out how many feet they will probably scale. If there are punk knots 
in sight, or any other defects which will make the lumber cost more 
than it will sell for, it is not advisable to count the tree. By the 



6t 

time you have tramped over 40 acres, your "novice" will probably 
enjoy his pork and no less his "dudeen." When the shades of night 
fall about him, he will be a fit subject for gathering up a handful of 
pine spines for a feather bed, and after hunting up a soft rock or a 
pine log for a pillow, say his prayers and enjoy the sleep of the just. 
We would not care to buy stumpage on the estimate of a novice from 
the results of one day's experience, but if he sticks to it long enough, 
he in the course of a few years would be likely to become an adept if 
he has the stuff in him that land lookers are made of. There is 
another way in which estimating is often done, borrowed from 
methods often adopted by United States surveyors, but it has its 
drawbacks, and these sometimes culminate in drawback toward the 
penitentiary, and is therefor not to be recommended to "novices." 
By this method, a pleasant room well lighted, a large table and plenty 
of writing material are requisite. A large map of the territory, to be 
estimated or surveyed, is spread out, and the lines laid out dividing 
it from other lands, then it is the easiest thing in the world to mark 
off section lines, which can never be found, and to estimate quantities 
of timber which never existed. There has been too much of such 
surveying and estimating, and the outcome has never been satis- 
factory. Concisely to answer our correspondent's question. Timber 
estimators are born rather than educated, and must learn from 
experience rather than from books. 



-TH 



Lumber Trade Journal 

W. C. WRIGHT, Business M'gr. 

GEO. W. HOTCHKISS, Editor. 



SETW^I-TUTONTHLV. 



Issued. ls\ du^ l^\li d\ eacli moTclVv. 



'^i$2.00 K YEHR.i^ 



A PRACTICAL, RELIABLE, AND 

POPULAR PAPER. 

ALWAYS CONTAINS MATTER OF 

VALUE TO MANUFACTURERS 

: AND DEALERS. : 

SAMPLE COPY MAILED ON APPLICATION. 

THE LUMBE!( T[(ADE JODI^MAL, 

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